Digital input/output system and method

ABSTRACT

A parallel process controller capable of expandable, parallel operating multi-function control of processes. The process controller comprises programmable command memory modules, data memory modules, an input/output system, a programming panel, and a high speed data bus (N-bus). 
     The input/output system comprises input/output channels for intercommunication between the process controller and the external world. This intercommunication is repetitively updated for each input/output channel in an error-free manner that operates autonomously with respect to the remainder of the process controller. Each input/output channel incorporates a first dedicated area of a dedicated data memory module in which information is read and a second dedicated area of the data memory module in which information is written. The information read from the first dedicated area is transferred to external devices via a local modem-remote modem combination. Likewise, data written into the second dedicated area of the dedicated data memory module is transferred from the external device via the same remote modem-local modem combination.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 646,412 filed Jan. 2, 1976, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to process controllers, and in particular to parallel process controllers.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The use of control systems in industry and commerce is pervasive. Such control systems are typically used in chemical processing, textile processing, steel manufacture, weighing systems, and virtually any industrial manufacturing process. Originally, such control systems depended upon timely human decisions and intervention for proper operation. However, control systems that operate independently of human response have recently appeared. These control systems have typically relied on predetermined limits, sequences, and actions in order to properly control the system. Thus, the tools of the control engineer have progressed from simple human intervention to relays, to simple sequences, and finally, in the recent past, to programmable controllers; such as the Models 084, 184 and 284 of the present Modicon Corporation of Andover, Massachusetts. The advent of programmable controllers was a powerful new tool for the control engineer, for it allowed him or her to produce a control program that effectively simulated the logic functions of hard wired relays.

The use of relay logic was a natural first step for the control engineer to take. Also, the use of sequencers, or stepping switches, to make relay logic cyclicable and repetitive was a logical extension of hard wired relay logic. Thus, the introduction of programmable controllers that operated in relay logic fashion and were programmable in a relay ladder diagram format was a natural; albeit highly innovative, progression of the control engineering art.

However, at this point the logical development of tools for the control enginner broke down. The industry's acceptance of programmable controllers as a working tool led to the desire to assign greater and more complex control tasks to these controllers. Some of these tasks have been met in part by adding to programmable controllers the ability to perform non-relay logic functions such as data transfer operations as enumerated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,233, issued Dec. 30, 1975, assigned to the Modicon Corporation, and incorporated herein by reference.

However, although the programmable controllers may be improved to allow some data transfer capability, the programmable controllers do not have the speed nor the capability to rapidly perform many such data transfer operations without lengthening the execution time of the relay logic lines of the programmable controller.

An alternative to the programmable controller having such added functions was found to be the mini-computer, which is capable of performing far more complex tasks than a programmable controller. However, mini-computers have the significant drawback of requiring a programmer to define its operations. Thus, the control engineer could no longer speak to his equipment directly, because the mini-computer did not comprehend relay logic. The mini-computer spoke computer language, or assembly language, or some interpretive language like Fortran, and the control engineer typically did not speak these languages.

Thus, this more powerful tool for the control engineer required an interpreter between it and the control engineer. Furthermore, the larger the computer, the greater the interpreter's skill required to program the computer.

In using a mini-computer to perform control functions for industrial control systems, the control engineer would design his system and tell the program what he wanted the mini-computer to do. Consequently, a new language was necessary which was considered a comprise between the control engineer and the programmer. The control engineer put his control system's request into a new language, and the programmer converted it into computer language. Consequently, there were mistakes and mistaken interpretations due to the extra man between the control engineer and the system to be controlled. The resultant misunderstandings and re-education by both the control engineer and the programmer resulted in an inefficient control system with major economic drawbacks. Thus even though with the use of a mini-computer it was possible to perform more complicated tasks than previously performable by simple programmable controllers, the development and debugging of software for the mini-computer, as well as the interfacing hardware necessary between the mini-computer and the system to be controlled, made such a mini-computer system an order or magnitude more expensive and time consuming to implement than programmable controllers.

Also, today's control system problems have become more difficult due to the large control problems encountered in many large industrial complexes. Some control engineers have used multiple service programmable controllers to tackle such large control system's problems. Others have used the general purpose computer directly through a variety of general and special interface boxes. Finally, there is an increasing trend toward the development of special languages for a dedicated mini-computer. Various suppliers have developed dedicated programming languages for specific market segments. However, there seems to be little commonality between these programming languages.

The control engineers that have attempted to use computers have suffered through the development time and expense of generating original software for the computers. Furthermore, they have the continuing problem of implementing changes in the process, or changes in the control technique that require alteration of the software. Thus, even though the computer is programmed to perform a control task, it still requires a programmer to make every change in the program performing that task. Even minor changes in the process require a programmer's assistance in reinstructing the computer.

Furthermore, the dedicated computers being applied through interpretive programming language are not free of problems. Computers are not generally variable in size to match a given job, which results in excess capacity and expense in those situations where the job is small, or complicated interconnections between two or more computers if the control task is large. In addition, the reliability of the computer creates a maintenance problem, since computers generally are intended to be used in the computer room environment and not in the hard-hat environment of industrial process control.

Clearly then, the ideal solution to the problem of control system implementation is a special purpose machine that communicates in a language understandable by the control engineer, that is expandable to fit the desired control system, and that can withstand the industrial environment. Furthermore such a machine must be reliable and be equipped with input/output capability that will operate the relay valves and motors found in industrial process control systems. Such a machine must give the control engineer the enlarged and expandable data base that the current programmable controllers lack, and eliminate the need of the programmer intermediary used with mini-computers and computers.

The present parallel process controller is this solution. It comprises command memory modules, data memory modules, an input/output system, a programming panel, and a high speed N-bus (data bus) for accomplishing any desired control task. The control engineer simply instructs the command memory modules through the interconnectable programming panel what he desires to be performed. The control engineer does not have to tell the process controller how to perform what he desires because the command memory modules incorporate the necessary hardware for solving the instructions selected by the control engineer.

Since each command memory module is a physically separable item, they may be added to the process controller to adequately fit the size of a particular control task. Furthermore, since each command memory module acts autonomously from the other command memory modules, and since each command module solves its selected instructions in a short, fixed, length of time, the entire process controller, regardless of the overall complexity of the entire control task, performs this control task in a parallel fashion. That is, the system response time is not a function of the complexity of the control task.

The programming panel not only allows the control engineer to instruct the command modules, but also allows the control engineer to monitor and troubleshoot the entire process controller. A discrete, simple, user oriented language is used, therefore not requiring the control engineer to understand computer language. Furthermore, all information displays are decimal, not requiring the control engineer to know and understand other numeric systems.

The present invention also incorporates data memory modules which allow expansion of the data base to fit a particular control task. In addition, the input/output system of the present invention provides high speed, error-free transfer of information from the process under control to the process controller, as well as the transferral of industrial compatible signals to operate relays, valves, and motors ordinarily found on equipment in the control process.

The parallel process controller can also serve as a master control over a number of programmable controllers that interface with the process under control. Here, the process controller of the present invention forms the hierarchical control needed for controlling complex processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The parallel process controller (PPC or machine) of the present invention is an expandable, parallel operating multi-function controller designed specifically for industrial process control. It consists of three basic sections, the command memory modules (CM), the data memory modules (DM), and the input/output system (I/O). Each CM and DM is packaged in a self-contained module, and a high speed N-bus allows interconnection of from 1 to 10 CM's with from 0 to 2 DM's. Internally, the I/O is regarded as additional memory. The PPC is programmed and monitored through a programming panel, which functions through a dedicated channel in the I/O. The programming panel can display the contents of each command memory and data memory, one line at a time. A line is the basic information entity in the PPC. The programming panel also allows an operator to instruct the PPC to perform functions which are part of its repertoire. Power for the parallel process controller is available in incremental blocks, to match the number of CM's and DM's employed.

The PPC will interface with peripherals which operate in ASCII format. Printers, certain CRT's, teletypewriters and other peripheral devices are usable with the PPC. The three basic building blocks of the parallel process controller, the CM, DM, and I/O, are organized around the high speed N-bus and communicate to each other via this bus.

The command memory module is the active element of the parallel process controller. It contains the functional equivalent of a central processing unit as well as memory for lines of instruction for the PPC. Additionally, the CM has as part of its hardware the circuitry to carry out certain special functions. These include calculations, data or instruction transfers, timing and counting, and arithmetic testing and logic. A command memory operates autonomously, without regard for other CM's. It is the equivalent of a micro-processor with memory but without I/O. While major differences in implementation exist between a general purpose processor and the command memory, their results, for those functions which the PPC is built to perform, are the same with one significant exception. The present process controller operates as a parallel processor, while a computer is a series processor. In the process control field, the present command memory represents a departure from conventional process controller design, combining as it does the processor with its own dedicated memory and allowing the resultant device to step through 200 pre-programmed lines of instructions. The advantages of the present invention's use of command memory modules over conventional process controllers for process control applications are:

1. a large reference data base;

2. designed-in hardware commands;

3. faster operation;

4. the ability to operate up to ten CM's in parallel;

5. the range of peripherals available; and

6. possibility of interaction with supervisory general purpose computers.

The advantages of the command memory over general purpose computers are:

1. the hardwired commands (no software generation required).

2. the parallel operation of up to 10 CM's;

3. the optimized handling of the eighty bit line;

4. the ruggedized construction; and

5. the RFI shielding;

The data memory module is the data storage element of the parallel process controller. The data memory is optional and the PPC can function without the data memory by using a scratchpad memory and live storage area in the command memory. For applications in which the storage available in the CM is not large enough, from one to two DM's may be included in the system. CM's share the N-bus sequentially and during its bus access time, any CM may address, read, or write in any DM location. Information stored by one CM at a certain DM location can be referenced, destroyed, or changed by any other CM. This multiple DM access is the only means of CM to CM communication.

The input/output system (I/O) of the parallel process controller consists of from one to three 80 line I/O memories (200 lines maximum are used), from two to ten pairs of local and remote modems, and an indeterminate number of terminal boxes. Each of the ten remote modems performs multiplexing on the equivalent of 640 input and 640 output terminals, for a total capacity of up to 6400 input points and 6400 output points. Sixty-four (64) bit datum words or 80 bit statement words are assembled in the remote modem. These words are created by any device desiring to communicate with the PPC, including the programming panel, peripheral devices such as printers, CRT's, teletypewriters, and mass storage units, and input and output signal conditioning cards.

The line is the basic unit of information and instruction within the parallel process controller. It is 80 bits long and is the functional equivalent of the word in a mini-computer. However, because the minicomputer word length is typically 12 or 16 bits, the 80 bit line in the PPC is more powerful than a word or instruction in the mini-computer. The line is broken into five 16-bit segments, called registers, and each register is given a name and has a specific function in the operation of the PPC. The number assigned to the line describes its geographical location within the parallel process controller. Each command memory has locations for 1000 lines and is assigned numbers from 000 to 999. Line numbers 1000 through 1999 are reserved for memory locations within the I/O system of the PPC. Line numbers 2000 through 9999, in blocks of 4000 numbers, are reserved for the data memory modules.

An instruction register tells whether the line is an instruction (to be carried out) or a datum (to be processed as information); and if it is an instruction, what the instruction is.

A reference register tells the controller whether the condition reference is AC (transitional) or DC (direct), where the condition reference is stored, the relationship to the reference (true, false, true-to-false transition, or false-to-true transition), and the type of reference (coil, ready, stepper, or transformer, explained infra). This register is similar in operation to the first register of an electrical circuit line disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639, entitled "Digital Computer-Industrial Controller System and Apparatus;" assigned to Modicom Corporation, of Andover, Massachusetts; and hereby incorporated by reference.

A third register, called the A register can refer only to the command memory in which it is located. It can contain a relay type element, and a four digit number. The number can be local data, or it can be the address of another line within the same CM where data may be obtained. The latter type of number is designated remote data. A fourth register, called the B register can refer to any line of memory in the entire machine. It can contain a relay type element and a four digit number, and the four digit number is always an address.

For all arithmetic operations, the A and B registers are operated on, and the result is stored in the fifth register, known as the C register.

The C register, as the A register can only refer to lines of memory within the CM in which it is located. It also can contain a relay type element and a four digit number. The number can be data (local) or it can be the address of data within the CM (remote).

All communication to the PPC is performed through the line. The programming panel can address any line within the PPC and operate on that line alone. Data from I/O modules is grouped into lines before it is transmitted to the I/O memory, where it is stored as discrete lines. Information is stored in the data memory in complete 80-bit lines.

The operation of the programming panel including the "trace" and "scroll" features (discussed infra) and the electronic implementation of the programming panel is set forth in significant part in U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,984, issued Mar. 16, 1976, and assigned to Modicon Corporation, of Andover, Massachusetts. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639, entitled "Digital Computer-Industrial Controller System and Apparatus," issued Aug. 22, 1972, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,233, entitled "Data Transfer and Manipulation Apparatus for Industrial Controllers," issued Dec. 30, 1975, both assigned to the Modicon Corporation, also discuss the electronic implementation of programming panels similar to the programming panel utilized in the present invention. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

There are two status bits associated with each line within the PPC. They are included as part of the 80 bits of the line itself within the instruction register and are addressable using the same number as the line number. The first bit is designated Ready (D) which generally refers to the truth of the reference condition, or if the instruction is a multiscan instruction, to the truth of the reference condition after a suitable delay to allow the instruction to be completed. Ready can be either a steady state or a pulse reference. The second bit is designated Coil or Koil (K) and can be defined for many lines as the logical truth of the line.

Each PPC command memory contains a large number of hardwired instructions that can be used repeatedly by the control engineer to set up and solve process problems. These instructions require only a single line of CM space to implement, and during programming, only the selection of a single pushbutton switch to request. First is the relay logic line, which is analogous to the logic line disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639, supra, as well as the logic line used by the Model 084 and 184 programmable controllers of the Modicon Corporation, Andover, Massachusetts. The selection of the relay switch sets up the R, A, B, and C registers to accept logic element type inputs and reference locations similar to the Modicon model 084 and 184 programmable controllers.

Beyond simple relay logic lines, the PPC will perform arithmetic calculations, tests, counts, timing, transfers, and conversion of data from one format to another. Each of these functions can be performed locally (where the A & C registers contain data) or remotely (where the A & C registers contain the addresses of data stored elsewhere).

The parallel process controller of the present invention can also control a number of external programmable controllers which in turn control a desired process. Here the present invention forms the apex of a hierarchical control system. Alternatively, the programmable controllers can act as remote data concentrators for efficient data transfer to the I/O system of the present invention. In either mode as well as in the earlier mentioned direct control of the desired process, the present parallel process controller provides a means for controlling extremely complicated processes capable of being implemented by control engineers without the need of computer specialists.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a process controller that is capable of parallel operation of a plurality of central processing units so as to implement industrial process control of varying complexity;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description having an invariant response time regardless of the complexity or size of the industrial process being controlled;

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller comprising command memory modules corresponding to individual central processing units which are expandable in number, that communicate with an expandable number of data memory modules for the storage of data, and an input/output system for communication between the parallel process controller and a plurality of interconnected external devices;

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description capable of parallel, supervisory control of a plurality of programmable controllers;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description having an interconnectable programming panel for monitoring, programming, and displaying instructions executed by the parallel process controller;

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein the instructions programmed by the programming panel are of a simple format thereby allowing an operator unskilled in computer programming language to effectively implement a desired industrial process control;

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein the instructions entered on the programming panel correspond to lines having a fixed size which are capable of representing the complete repertoire of instructions solvable by the parallel process controller, including calculation, data and instruction transfers, timing and counting, arithmetic testing and logic, and wherein said lines may alternatively represent data in one of a variety of formats;

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein data manipulations involving data of varying format is solved by the process controller without special instructions or alterations of the instructions by the user;

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein the programming panel is able to monitor the lines stored in the command memory modules and data memory modules, to scroll through consecutively higher or lower numbered lines, and to trace into instruction lines to which a previously displayed instruction line refers;

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein the input/output system performs error free communication with a plurality of external devices and operates asynchronously with respect to the remainder of the parallel process controller;

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein each command memory module is repetitively sequentially interconnected with the data memory modules and input/output system for a set predetermined length of time so that the command memory modules are capable of communication between each other via the data memory modules;

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description wherein the programming panel incorporates a cathode ray tube (CRT) display for illustrating the particular instruction line presently being monitored or programmed by the user wherein a plurality of keys on the programming panel are capable of selecting the complete repertoire of instructions solvable by the parallel process controller;

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a parallel process controller of the above description having an input/output system that is capable of communication with a plurality of external devices including programmable controllers, over long distances while maintaining error free transmittal of information to and from the parallel process controller;

Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of the parallel process controller of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an overall block diagram of the input/output system and the interconnection of this system to the command memory modules and data memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, and to interconnected external devices;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a programmed line utilized in the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, illustrating the five registers comprising a line as well as the information represented by each of these registers;

FIG. 5 is an overall block diagram of the interconnections between the command memory modules, data memory modules, input/output channels, and the general timing and control unit of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an overall block diagram of a command memory module of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the line memory addresses utilized in a command memory module of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the line addresses utilized in the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a typical program line utilized in the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, similar to the typical line shown in FIG. 4 but showing in more detail the information entered into the instruction register of the programmed line;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the information entered into the registers of a program line of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, illustrating the condition references and output conditions of a typical programmed line;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of "stepper" lines utilized in the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 in a schematic representation of "input transformer" lines utilized in command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of "output transformer" lines utilized in command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the general line format used for different instructions solvable by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of the general statement formats used by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15A is a schematic representation of the instruction and reference registers of an instruction line utilized by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, illustrating the coding format for these instruction registers as well as the contact specifications used by the reference register;

FIG. 15B is a schematic representation of the coding format of an instruction register of an instruction line utilized in command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15C illustrates the coding format for the reference, A, B, and C nodes of a logical statement utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16, comprising FIGS. 16A through 16SSF are a series of diagrammatic representations of the complete instruction set of statement lines solvable by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1, as well as conversion from datum lines of one data format to a datum line of another data format or from a statement line to a datum line;

FIG. 17 is a timing chart illustrating the calculation timing for execution of arithmetic statements by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a timing diagram for conducting multi-sweep execution of multiply and divide statements by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a timing diagram of the execution by the command memory modules of compare, match and test instructions;

FIG. 20 is a timing diagram for execution of count statements by the command memory modules;

FIG. 21 is an overall flow diagram utilized by the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is an overall block diagram of the processor used in the command memory modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is an overall block diagram of a typical data memory module utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a detailed block diagram of a typical data memory module of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 25 is a detailed timing chart illustrating the execution of functions of a typical data memory module of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a section of I/O memory of a particular I/O channel as well as the local modem accompanying this I/O channel of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 27 is an overall block diagram of the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 28 is a schematic representation of the module assignments for the complete I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a schematic representation of the line addresses utilized by the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 30 is a timing chart illustrating the data rates and minimum bandwidths required by an I/O channel of the I/O system;

FIG. 31 is a timing diagram illustrating the various timing states for the transmittal and receipt of information via the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 32 is a timing chart illustrating the "header" transferral utilized by the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is an overall block diagram of a typical I/O channel of the I/O system;

FIG. 34 is a schematic representation of the I/O status word coding utilized by the I/O system of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic representation of the utilization of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1 with interconnected external programmable controllers so as to form a hierarchical parallel process controller for complex processes;

FIG. 36 is an overall block diagram of the general timing and control unit of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 37 is a diagrammatic representation of the power and bus interconnections of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 38 is a detailed block diagram of the general timing and control unit of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 39 is a schematic representation of the system status word coding utilized by the general timing and control unit of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 40 is an overall block diagram and timing chart analysis of the N-bus utilized in the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 41A is a block diagram of the command memory module bus logic utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 41B is a timing chart of the command memory bus logic illustrated in FIG. 41A;

FIG. 42A is an overall block diagram of the data memory bus logic utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 42B is a timing chart of the data memory bus logic illustrated in FIG. 42A;

FIG. 43A is a schematic representation of the N-bus of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 43B is a timing analysis for the skew rate of the N-bus illustrated in FIG. 43A;

FIG. 44 is a timing chart representing the transferral of information on the N-bus of FIG. 43A;

FIG. 45 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1 illustrating the insertion of module frames into the main assembly enclosure of the parallel process controller;

FIG. 46 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of the main assembly enclosure illustrated in FIG. 2 of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 47A is a perspective view of a typical card frame for enclosing a printed circuit card on which one of the modules of the parallel process controller of FIG. 1 is enclosed;

FIG. 47B is a partially cutaway side elevational view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 47A;

FIG. 48A is a perspective view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 47A without the insertion of the printed circuit card illustrated in FIG. 47A;

FIG. 48B is a partially cutaway side elevational view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 48A;

FIG. 48C is a top plan view of the frame illustrated in FIGS. 48A and 48B;

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the radio frequency interference shield utilized in the main assembly enclosure illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 46;

FIG. 50 is a block diagram of the input filter unit and power supply system utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 51 is a top plan view of one version of the programming panel utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 52 is a perspective view of a cathode ray tube embodiment of the programming panel utilized by the parallel process controller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 53 is a diagrammatic representation of the system configuration describing a typical process to be controlled;

FIGS. 54A-54C are diagrammatic representations of a ladder block diagram for the process illustrated in FIG. 53;

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing and explaining the notations used in FIGS. 54A-54C;

FIGS. 56A-56D is a diagrammatic representation of a ladder program listing based on the ladder block diagrams of FIGS. 54A-54C; and

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing how FIGS. 56A-56D are put together.

GLOSSARY NOTE

A glossary of frequently used terms in the description of the present invention is enclosed and labeled Table 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a parallel process controller (also designated PPC or machine) 10 performs as a soft-wired control system for industrial applications. The physical hardware it replaces is inherently continuous and parallel, a network of discrete acquisition, processing, and control elements. In the past, minicomputers have been used to replace such control systems with varying degrees of success. Since a computer is a sequential processing device, executing one instruction at a time, implementation of a control system requires careful consideration of performance under all system conditions. For example, sampling rates may vary with processing load, causing "crosstalk" between seemingly independent parts of a system. Multilevel interrupt systems and supervisory executive routines are often used to solve such problems. In general, however, minicomputer systems tend to be tailored to each process through a massive programming effort by programming specialists and to contain time and memory-consuming overhead to "match" the sequential machine to the parallel process.

The present parallel process controller avoids these problems by strict, hardware-controlled "parallel processing." The PPC has no "instructions" in the minicomputer sense. Instead, it is programmed by "Lines," each of which is a stand-alone processing or storage element. Interrelation of these lines is controlled by referencing, corresponding to wiring or interconnection of the elements. The reader familiar with programmable logic controllers may note that this programming technique has been successfully used in programmable controllers, such as the Models 084, 184 and 284 of the Modicon Corporation, Andover, Mass.

A processing line, called a statement may be a four-term Boolean or relay ladder line as in a programmable logic controller, or it may perform an arithmetic or other calculation when activated by a discrete reference condition (called a "coil"). Each statement has at least one condition reference input and one coil output. Other features, which permit flexible system programming are detailed infra, as are the various types of statements. A storage line, called a Datum, may also be programmed. This is simply a place in which to store data associated with the process. A command memory 12 is the device which stores and executes user lines. Lines contained in a command memory are continuously active with respect to their control relationships. A network of up to 200 active lines may exist within a single command memory module. The control relationships of the command memory lines are emulated, and all processing takes place at the invariant rate of 100 times per second. Internally, the command memory processes lines in numerical order, so that multi-step processes may be performed in a single 10 millisecond scan in most instances. Parallel processing capability may be expanded by connecting several command memories to a PPC system.

A general timing and control unit (GTCU) 14 generates all signals necessary for the sharing of an N-bus 16 by command memories as well as system synchronization and refreshing of semiconducor data memories. It also provides power regulation and control signals to a power supply system 34.

The PPC system comprises one or more command memories as processing elements. All control systems, however, require input/output capability. In addition, provision must be made for data and program storage capability, and for intercommunication among command memories. The N-bus 16 provides an electrical pathway over which command memory statements can have access to common input, output, and data storage units.

Optional data memory modules 18 for storing up to 4000 lines each are available in the parallel process controller. Statements contained in data memories are not active but may be moved into command memories under program control as required. Stored data may also be manipulated by the command memories and storage locations can be used as a means of communication between individual command memories as well as for bulk data storage. All data memories are accessible to all command memories via the N-bus.

Command memory access to the outside world is provided via the input/output (I/O) system 20. All command memories can access I/O locations via the N-bus. The I/O unit appears as a set of data lines containing a one-for-one mapping of outside world information. Multiplexing/demultiplexing hardware transfers information between these lines and up to 10 remote locations at the rate of 125 times a second. Both refreshing and error-correction are automatic and continuous and do not require program intervention. As best seen in FIG. 3, an I/O memory 22 has output addresses that are read/write and can thus be used as "data memory" addresses for scratchpad and for inter-command memory buffering purposes.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the command memory modules 12 are interconnected via the N-bus 16. Up to ten command memories are time division-multiplexed on the N-bus so that each, in turn, has control of the bus. Up to two 40-line and one 20-line I/O memories and up to two 4000-line data memories service the bus at all times since one and only one location in all of these memories may be accessed at any instant. Command and data memory numbers are selected by a thumbwheel switch 24 on each module. The input/output system is expandable from a basic I/O memory unit with two channels 26 and 27 optionally expandable to four channels 26, 27, 28 and 29. Up to two addtional I/O memory units 23 and 25 each carrying either two or four channels may be added, up to a maximum of ten channels (Channels 4-9). Each I/O channel communicates with a remote modem 30 located up to three thousand feet from the PPC and connected via CATV cable. Up to ten 64-bit lines of input and ten 64-bit lines of output may be further demultiplexed at the remote location. In some equipment, these lines are grouped into ten I/O "ports" 32, each consisting of one input and one output location. Discrete digital, alphanumeric, and programming devices are connected at these points. Direct programming and memory loading devices are restricted to I/O Channel 0, ports φ and 1. Indirect loading may be implemented via user commands or other lines.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, an expandable power supply system 34 powers the PPC system and provides, with associated filter circuitry 164, isolation from power line transients. A battery power backup system 19, couples with the power supply system to provide data and system protection in the event of power loss.

The parallel process controller is programmed as a collection of statements (and datums) entered by a programming panel 36 or other loading device. The following procedure is employed:

A. describe the process. This can be in any descriptive format familiar to the user, but should indicate signal flow from input to output. Electrical elementary diagram format is also useful.

B. assign outputs. This fixes output statement line numbers where discrete outputs are required.

C. assign inputs and data storage locations.

D. create the program using the PPC set of 41 statement types (discussed infra). This should closely follow the original descriptive diagrams.

E. debug. Individual conditions can be exercised using the programming panel disable feature (described infra) so that portions of the system can be disconnected and debugged individually.

The above procedure is followed for each command memory program. The following items are typically considered:

1. Command memory programs do not inherently interact. One may not reference another directly.

2. Lines are solved in numerical sequence.

3. Command memories operate in synchronism on a line-by-line basis.

4. Only lines 0-199 of each CM (discussed infra) are executed although other lines may contain statements. (The scratchpad area and transformer area (infra) each contain 40 lines.)

5. Data written into data memory by one command memory "move out" statement (discussed infra) may be immediately read by another command memory of higher number on the same time or by any CM on the second subsequent line.

6. The number of lines effectively "swept" by a command memory may be increased by application of block and line move in and move out statements (discussed infra), with attendant reduction of sweep speed.

An example of an instruction line 38 is given in FIG. 4. This illustrates some of the information contained in a typical line. Further details are found infra relating to the command memory. The following features should be noted:

(a) Line number region 61 specifies the location of the line in one of ten CM's, in DM or in I/O.

(b) Line type register (instruction or I register) 40 specified characteristics of the line.

(c) Registers 42 contain data and/or references associated with the line.

COMMAND MEMORY Function

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the command memory (CM) is the basic functional unit of the parallel process controller. Its purpose is to memorize user statements and datums descriptive of the process to be controlled and to continuously process these lines to produce the desired control relationships. The command memory is one of up to ten identical parallel central processing units in the PPC system. The command memory can contain a maximum of 200 active user lines, each of which may function as a statement (processing element) or may contain data. In addition, a user scratchpad area is available which generally is used to contain data. Auxiliary features are provided within each command memory to facilitate logical bit manipulation and discrete input/output.

A command memory contains all storage and functional elements required to process user statements. Access to input/output circuitry and data storage (data memory modules 18) is facilitated by connection to the N-bus 16. Timing and synchronization signals from the GTCU 14 via the N-bus maintain line-by-line lock-step synchronism between all command memories with the PPC system. Each time all 200 active lines are processed is defined as one "scan". Externally supplied power is required to support the command memories.

BASIC ARCHITECTURE

FIG. 6 illustrates the basic elements of the command memory.

MC Memory

A large semiconductor memory 46 contains 200 user lines 48, up to 40 scratchpad lines 50, and up to 40 special lines 51 (discussed infra). This memory includes additional storage capacity for partially processed results of lines requiring multiscan processing operation and for special "transformer" lines.

Processor

A second major element of the command memory is the processor 52. This processing element consists of an array of storage registers 54, arithmetic and logical elements 56, and a control read-only-memory (ROM) 58 which directs register transfer paths and sequential state progression. In general, such an array can be considered as an instruction sequence required to interpret and process statements and data in the main memory.

BUS INTERFACE

For access to externally located data and input/output the microprocessor 56 is provided with an interface 60 to the N-bus 16. Because of bus timing constraints, the bus controller 60 is somewhat independent of the microprocessor during a bus data exchange.

For each of the 200 user lines 48 being processed, several references to internal memory 50, a single read access from the N-bus, and a single write access to the N-bus may be made within each 40 microsecond bus multiplexing period.

"Run" Light

An internal self-test function is implemented in the command memory processor 52 to provide maintenance and protective information. Successful completion of a routine designed to exercise a maximum number of circuit elements and data paths causes recycling of a "watchdog timer" circuit within micro-processor 56. Failure to retrigger the device within a 20 millisecond period causes shutdown of the bus interface communication and of the "RUN" indicator 62.

Over-Temperature Sensor

An over-temperature sensor 64 monitors ambient temperature in the command memory module. An over-temperature condition is signalled to the N-bus 16 for maintenance purposes, but does not affect operation of the processor or memory. Over-temperature conditions can be logically sensed by user programs as part of system status information (line address 1200 of the PPC - general timing and control unit 14) should programmed response to this condition be required.

Instructions

The following section sets forth the addressing rules and instruction set of the parallel process controller 10, and presents in detail the internal data formats and the behavior of each line for both application and microprogram design.

Addressing; General

As best seen in the system memory diagram of FIG. 5 illustrating the relationship of address space within the PPC 10, the command memories are time-multiplexed on the N-bus 16 so that each, in turn, has access to the address field consisting of the I/O system 22 and data memories 18. A command memory may reference its internally stored data and conditions freely but may only make limited references to I/O 22 and data memory locations within data memories 18.

Internal Lines

Internal locations addressable by a command memory are illustrated in FIG. 7. Line storage locations are divided into three types: first, 200 active lines 48 for scanning and processing by the command memory processor 52; (see FIG. 6); second, 40 scratchpad lines 50 available for storage; and third, 40 special lines 51 (of which 12 are used) for performing translation between data and conditions. These lines augment bit manipulation capability, discussed infra.

Conditions

Statements within the active line area 48 are activated and controlled by condition references.

Ready (D)

Each line within the active area produces a "Ready" or a D-condition 65 which signifies that the operation specified by an active statement is "ready;" i.e., that the statement has completed the most recently initiated action. This condition is true for one scan each time the action is completed.

Coil or Koil (K)

A set of "coils" or K-condition references 66 are provided. These conditions represent the logical result or status of any line within the command memory.

Stepper (S)

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, four "steppers" 68 are provided in each command memory. Each stepper is a special line location and generates 100 "sequence" conditions. A stepper is generally used to activate functions in a sequential fashion. A stepper is roughly equivalent to a rotary switch; i.e., one and only one condition out of each set of 100 conditions may be true at any one time. Table 1 explains the addressing scheme of the steppers.

Input (E)

Each command memory is provided with four special line locations which function as input transformers 70. Each transformer produces a mapping of any line stored at that location such that each bit of the line is referencable as an E-condition. Each of the input transformer words thus produces a set of 64 E-condition references.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Input Transformer (see FIGS. 7 and 12)                                         Bits 0 - 63 deposited into line 910 become "coils" E0/0/ - E63                 Bits 0 - 63 deposited into line 911 become "coils" 064 - 127                   Bits 0 - 63 deposited into line 912 become "coils" 128 - 191                   Bits 0 - 63 deposited into line 913 become "coils" #192 - E255                 Output Transformer (see FIGS. 7 and 13)                                        K coils K000 - K063 generated by line 0 - 63 are stored in line 920              bits 0 - 63                                                                  K coils K064-K127 generated by lines 64-127 are stored in line 921 bits        0-63                                                                           K coils K128-K191 generated by lines 128-191 are stored in line 922 bits       0-63                                                                           K coils K192-K199 generated by lines 192-199 are stored in line 923 bits       0-7                                                                            Bits 8 - 63 of line 923 are zero                                               Stepper (see FIGS. 7 and 11)                                                   Numerical value 1-99 deposited into line 900 becomes one of coils              S000-S099                                                                      Numerical value 0-99 deposited into line 901 becomes one of coils              S100-S199                                                                      Numerical value 0-99 deposited into line 902 becomes one of coils              S200-S299                                                                      Numerical value 0-99 deposited into line 903 becomes one of coils              S300-S399                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

The input transformer may be thought of as a method of converting discrete input information into individually referencable "coils." Table 1 explains the addressing scheme of the E-conditions.

Output Transformers

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 13, a set of output transformers 72 map the first 200 K coils 66 into special line locations in a process which is essentially the inverse of the input transformer 70. Four such transformers are provided, each of which maps 64 K-conditions in numerical sequence (up to 199). These transformers provide the fundamental method for communicating discrete information between a command memory and output points. The set of input and output transformers allows discrete bit exchange between command memories within the PPC system using intermediate locations within data memory modules. Table 1 explains the addressing scheme of the K-conditions.

I/O Addressing

Input/output addresses of the I/O system 20 are illustrated in FIG. 8. All input/output locations are referenced by all command memories at PPC line addresses 1000 to 1999. These are ten I/O channels (see FIG. 5). Each channel output section 74 is referenced as 10 consecutive line locations in the address range 1000 through 1099 and each channel input section 76 is referenced as 10 line locations in the address range 1100 through 1199.

One hundred words of I/O channel status conditions 78 are available at address locations 1300 to 1399, one word for each line of data, ten for each channel. Bits contained within each word signify the new word status of an individual subchannel (line), and also information concerning the status of channel hardware (carrier, error). The bit test instruction (to be described infra) permits the status bits to be used to implement programmed control of I/O devices when required. Output addresses may be written and read for use as storage locations. Line 1200 contains system power status information and is physically located in the GTCU 14.

TYPES OF COMMAND MEMORY LINES Format

Command memory lines may be classified into three types: statements, datums, and dedicated lines. As best seen in FIG. 9, each line consists of an 80-bit word which is divided into two portions. The first portion is a 16 bit line type or I register 40 containing a description or specification of the line and its status. The remainder of the line consists of four 16-bit registers 42 designated R, A, B, and C, which generally contain the working information associated with the line.

I-Register; Status Bits

A status portion 80 of the I-register is dynamic. It contains the coil (K) 66 and ready (D) 65 status bits, which are updated each time the line is processed. It also contains the enable 82 and suspend 83 bits. The enable bit allows a programming panel operator to cause a line to be disabled so that the associated coil and ready conditions can be forced to a known status during debugging operations. The suspend bit allows the programming panel 36 (see FIG. 1) to inhibit all processing of the line. In addition, a previous sample 84 of the reference node calculation (if the line is a statement, see FIG. 4) is stored in the status portion of the I-register so that reference node state transition may be detected (for AC or transitional referencing). For timed count statements (discussed infra), the history of a prior request for counting is also stored.

I-Register; Description Code

A description portion 85 of the I-register specifies whether the line is a statement or a datum. When a line is a datum, R, A, B, and C registers 42 are taken together as data in the format specified by the description code. If the line is a statement, registers R, A, B, and C take on specific meaning as will be detailed in the following sections.

Statements; R-Register

FIG. 10 and Table 2 illustrate characteristics which are common to all statements.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         REGISTERS:                                                                     I-Register defines Instruction.                                                R Register activates process (condition reference).                            A,B,C Registers define data or conditions asso-                                ciated with process.                                                           D (Ready) indicates True when result of process                                is ready (available). D lasts for one sweep                                    EACH TIME process is completed.                                                K (Coil) indicates logical result of process                                   (as required).                                                                 REFERENCES:                                                                    The R Register may make DC (static) or AC (transi-                             tional) references to conditions in a command memory.                          Other logical nodes may make DC references only.                               Any logical node may make DC references only.                                  Any logical node may make inverted reference (True                             When referenced condition is false).                                           Conditions referenced may be Coil (K), Done (D),                               Input (E), or Sequence Step (S).                                               ______________________________________                                    

The reference (R) register of a statement causes transmission of a true (logical one) condition if the specified reference conditions are met. (Registers performing logical condition solutions are referred to as "nodes"). The R-node may refer to any internal D, K, E (input transformer bit; see FIG. 7), or S (output transformer bit; see FIG. 7) condition in either inverted or noninverted sense. The result of this reference may be taken as a static (DC) or transitional (AC) condition. If transitional, a false-to-true transition causes an output lasting for one sweep.

When a transitional (AC) reference is made, the result (R-node) output will be true whenever the referenced condition is sensed as true on the current sweep and was sensed as false on the previous sweep. An inverted transitional reference is true when the referenced condition is false on the current sweep and was true on the previous sweep.

Statement; Ready Condition (D)

For every statement, a true output from the R-node ultimately causes a D or ready condition 65 to occur. In most lines, the D condition coincides with the truth of the R-node (since processing of the statement occurs within the same sweep time as the detection of the referenced condition). In multi-sweep statements, (such as multiply and divide), the D condition does not occur until the completion of the calculation which may not occur for several sweeps. When a calculation is in progress, the line will not respond to a new R-node truth (DC) or transition (AC).

Statement; A, B, C, Registers, and Coil (K)

The process initiated by a true condition of the R-node commonly uses data or references supplied by the A, B, and C registers. Certain statements deposit information in the C register and most produce a logical result represented by the K coil 66.

SPECIAL LINES Stepper Lines

FIGS. 7 and 11 and Table 3 illustrate in more detail the action of a stepper line 68. A stepper location can contain a full 80 bit line, but any value placed in the data area in excess of the maximum step number (99) causes all referenced conditions for the associated stepper to be false.

Input and Output Transformer Lines

Input transformers are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 12 and Table 4 and output transformers are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 13 and Table 5. These figures and tables are largely self-explanatory. It should be noted that combinations of stepper lines with input and output transformers, plus bit test and move statements (disclosed infra) permit rather flexible input/output, sequential state, shift register, and sequencer type process-control implementations. An input transformer location is a general purpose "scratchpad" register and therefore can contain a K or coil bit 66.

Statement Classification and Terminology

The various classes of statements are illustrated in relay ladder diagram symbology in FIG. 14. These may be generally classified as data manipulation statements, logical statements, and count statements. Any logical node in an instruction refers only to a condition; however, registers within data manipulation statements often contain or refer to data.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         DESCRIPTION:                                                                              CM lines 900-903 form four steppers. The                                       decimal (BCD) contents of each "stepper"                                       location is referenceable by active CM                                         lines (0-199) as a set of 100 discrete                                         conditions (coils) as shown above. At                                          most, one condition in each set may be true                                    at any time. If the contents of the stepper                                    (L) ≧ 10.sup.2, all conditions are false; If                            (L) = 0, the "Home" condition is true. If                                      (L) = 1, "step 1" is true, etc.                                                Stepper locations are "scratch-pad" to the                                     CM and therefore may store a full 80 bits.                                     Thus, associated coils (K900-K903) are also                                    referenceable.                                                      RULE:      Step S X Y Z is true when contents of Line                                     90X = YZ, where YZ = 00, 01, 02, 03, ---                            99, and X = 0, 1, 2, 3                                                                    SXYZ = 0 for contents of line 90X ≧ 10.sup.2.                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         DESCRIPTION:                                                                              CM lines 910 - 913 form four input trans-                                      formers. Each bit in the data area composed                                    of the R, A, B, and C, Registers is ref-                                       erenceable as a Condition (Coil) by any                                        active line in the CM (lines 0-199). Loca-                                     tions 910-913 appear as "scratch-pad" to                                       the CM and are therefore full 80 bit                                           locations. Thus, Coil conditions K910,                                         K911, K912 and K913 are also referenceable.                                    In general, these locations are treated as                                     binary data.                                                        RULE:      Line 91X, bit YZ corresponds to E coil 64 X                                    + YZ where X = 0, 1, 2, 3 and YZ = 1, 2, 3,                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                          DESCRIPTION:                                                                              CM lines 920-923 form an image of CM                                           active and scratch-pad lines, 64 per                                           location. This map is useful for CM-to-                                        output and CM-to-CM communication. Out-                                        put transformer lines are updated con-                                         tinuously.                                                                     They are initialized to zero prior                                             to the first sweep on power-up.                                    NOTE:       Bits in the output transformers                                                correspond to K condition (Coils)                                              0-199 on an instantaneous basis.                                   RULE:       Line 92X, bit YZ contains K coil 64X +                                         YZ where X = 0, 1, 2, 3; YZ = 1, 2, 3,                             OUTPUT CONDITIONS: K923 are False                                              RESTRICTIONS:                                                                              If a CM statement (other than move in                                          or move out line) deposits into line920-923,                                   data will not be written, and map                                              content will not be affected.                                                  Warning: Move in or move out line                                              may cause data type to change,                                                 thus defeating this protection.                                    ______________________________________                                    

If a register within a statement contains data used in creating the result of the instruction, it is called local data; however, if the register contains a reference to data (i.e., the location in a memory location where data resides), it is called remote. Whenever a data reference is remote, only the B register can specify a data location external to the command memory; that is, the A and C registers can only specify data locations within the particular command memory.

Line Coding

FIG. 15 illustrates the coding format of the various line types. A statement contains decimal data expressed in binary coded decimal data (BCD); one four-digit quantity to each register as shown. A datum is expressed in either BCD or 8-bit coded digits. Whenever a data manipulation is performed between lines having data of varying formats, conversion between formats is automatic. When a statement is referenced as data, the content of the C register is used regardless of the actual significance of this information. Modification of the C register of a "logic" statement is prevented by hardware. In a numeric manipulation, nondecimal values contained in referenced data registers produce meaningless results. Binary (discrete) data is used primarily for condition and input/output manipulation

Details of the I and R register coding formats are shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C. As shown in these figures, the operation code (opcode) designating the type of line selected is stored in the first 10 bits of the I register. A summary of these opcodes is given in Table 5A for both hexidecimal and octal numbering systems. Bit 10 of the I register is the "suspend" bit, discussed infra, while bit 11 is the "enable" bit, discussed infra. The remaining four bits of the I register store information relating to the D and K conditions, and the prior state of the D condition.

As best seen in FIG. 15A, the R register stores information relating to the desired contact specifications which activates the R register and the line depending on the state of the selected K, E, D, or S condition of the reference line. These four R register contact specifications are: (1) normal static true 41; (2) static false 43; (3) false-to-true transition (AC leading edge) 45; and true-to-false transition (AC falling edge). The normal static true contact specification activates the R register if the selected reference condition (D, K, E, or S condition of the referenced line) is presently true. Conversely, the static false specification activates the R register if the reference condition is presently false. The AC leading edge specification activates the R register if the selected reference condition was false during the last sweep or scan and is presently true; while the AC falling edge activates the R register if the selected reference condition was true and is presently false.

                  TABLE 5A                                                         ______________________________________                                         SUMMARY OF OPCODES                                                                          OPCODES                                                                        LOCAL      REMOTE*                                                FUNCTION       HEX      OCT     HEX    OCT                                     ______________________________________                                         BIN DATA       0/0/0/   0/0/0/0/                                                                               N.A.                                           NO STORE BIN DATA                                                                             0/10/    0/0/20/ N.A.                                           BCD DATA       0/20/    0/0/40/ N.A.                                           ASCII DATA     0/30/    0/0/60/ N.A.                                           ADD            0/40/    0/10/0/ 0/50/  0/120                                   SUB            0/41     0/10/1  0/51   0/121                                   MUL            0/42     0/10/2  0/52   0/122                                   DIV            0/43     0/10/3  0/53   0/123                                   COMP           0/44     0/10/4  0/54   0/124                                   MATCH          0/45     0/10/5  0/55   0/125                                   TEST           0/46     0/10/6  0/56   0/126                                   GET DATA       0/87     0/207   0/97   0/227                                   PUT DATA       0188     0/210   0/98   0/230/                                  GET LINE       0/89     0/211   0/99   0/231                                   PUT LINE       0/8A     0/212   0/9A   0/232                                   BLOCK GET      0/AE     0/256   0/BE   0/276                                   COUNT REF      0/AB     0/253   0/BB   0/273                                   TMR SEC        1AB      0/653   1BB    0/673                                   TMR 0/.1 SEC   2AB      1253    2BB    1273                                    TMR .0/1 SEC   3AB      1653    3BB    1673                                    BIT TEST       0/CC     0/314   0/DC   0/334                                   PARALYZE       0/AD     0/255   0/BD   0/275                                   RELAY          0/E0/    0/340/  0/FO   0/360/                                  MULT IN PROG.  0/60/    0/140/  0/70   0/160/                                  DIVD IN PROG   0/61     0/160/  0/71   0/161                                                  XFX                                                             SPARES :       XXE                                                                            XXF                                                             ______________________________________                                          *REMOTE = LOCAL + 0/10/.sub.16                                           

Example of R register references are shown in FIG. 10. The reference line number is stored in bits 0-11 of the R register.

As best seen in FIG. 15C, for logical statement lines the A, B, and C registers refer to desired reference line conditions, specifying the D, E, S, or K conditions. These conditions are sensed as well as the contact specification--"and" 49, "and not" 51, "or" 53, and "or not" 59--that activate the particular A, B, or C node depending on the state of the referenced D, E, S, or K condition. It should be noted that certain nodes of counter, bit test and suspend lines also use the contact specification shown in FIG. 15C for some of the A, B, C nodes. The R node of a logical statement is analogous to the R register of any other type of statement (see FIG. 15B).

DETAILS OF THE INSTRUCTION SET

FIGS. 16A through 16SS and corresponding Tables 7A through 7XX form a detailed description of each statement and a description of the datum. Table 6 is a summary of this instruction or statement set. Some additional explanation follows.

Calculate (FIGS. 16A-16H, Table 7A-7H)

Calculate instructions (+, -, ×, -) deal with positive integers only. The result of the subtract statement is magnitude, with the coil (K) representing sign. For add, multiply and divide statements, the coil represents overflow or exceeding of data limits. Multiply and divide statements also place restrictions on the magnitude of the multiplier, multiplicand, and divisor as detailed in the figures.

Data Transfer and Move In, Move Out Line Transfer FIGS. 16O-16AA, Tables 7O-82AA

These statements are used for moving single datums, tables of data, or instruction sequences between locations within the PPC system. Two classes of move in and move out statements are provided. "Move in data" and "move out data" can move the data areas of lines only, with appropriate format conversion. The "move in" line and "move out" line statements are primarily for program loading, and must be used judiciously. These statements move entire lines without modification. In all move in and move out statements, the C register represents an "index" or "offset," allowing the instruction to point to any one of a number of locations within a table.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT SET AND DATUM SUMMARY                                                ______________________________________                                         Statement            Local      Remote                                                            (FIG. 16-) (FIG. 16-)                                                          (Table 7-) (Table 7-)                                       Arithmetic                                                                     Add                  A          B                                              Subtract             C          D                                              Multiply             E          F                                              Divide               G          H                                              Compare              I          J                                              Match                K          L                                              Test                 M          N                                              Data Transfer                                                                  Move In              O          P                                              Move Out             Q          R                                              Pack                 S          T                                              Unpack               U          V                                              FIFO                 W                                                         Line Transfer                                                                  Move In              X          Y                                              Move Out             Z          AA                                             Move In Block        BB         CC                                             Move Out Block       DD         EE                                             Suspend              FF         GG                                             Count                                                                          Preset Count         HH         II                                             Up/Down Count        JJ         KK                                             Timer .01 sec        HH         II                                             Timer .1 sec         HH         II                                             Timer 1 sec          HH         II                                             Bit Oriented                                                                   Bit Manipulate       LL         MM                                             Bit Match            NN         OO                                             Bit Shift            PP         QQ                                             Logic                RR                                                        Datum                                                                                             FIG. 16-   Table 7-                                         DIS to BCD and BCD to DIS                                                                           SS         SS                                             DIS, BCD or DNS to ASCII                                                                          SS and SSA   SS                                             ASCII to BCD or DIS                                                                               SS and SSB   SS                                             Statement to ASCII SS and SSC   SS                                             Statement to BCD or DIS                                                                           SS and SSD   SS                                             ASCII to Statement SS and SSE   SS                                             BCD, DIS, or DNS to Statement                                                                     SS and SSF   SS                                             Logic to any other Line Type                                                                      --           SS                                             ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7A                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: ADD LOCAL                                                           OPERATION:                                                                             If R is True, A + (B)→C                                         Note 1. The sum A+ (B) is calculated modulo 10.sup.4 and deposited into                the C Register                                                         2.      (B) is the data content of Line B located in CM, I/O, or DM            RESTRICTIONS:                                                                            A is BCD, 0≦A<10.sup.4                                                  B is BCD, 0≦B<10.sup.4                                                  C is BCD, 0≦C<10.sup.4                                        INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                           R=DXXX,                                                                               Where 0≦XXX<10.sup.3                                             KXXX,                                                                          EXXX,                                                                          or SXXX                                                                               R is normal or inverted, AC or DC                          OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               K: is true if A+ (B)≧10.sup.4 and D is true                             D: (Data Ready) is true if R is true                                         TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7B                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: ADD REMOTE                                                          __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                             If R is True, (A) + (B) → (C)                                   Note 1. The Data content of Line A plus the Data Content of Line                       B is deposited in the Data area of Line C.                             2.      The sum is calculated modulo 10.sup.16.                                3.      The sum is deposited according to Line C Data area modulus.            4.      Lines A and C are in CM. Line B is in CM, DM, or I/O.                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                            A is BCD; 0 ≦ A < 10.sup.3 (CM only)                                    B is BCD; 0 ≦ B < 10.sup.4 (CM, I/O, or DM)                             C is BCD; 0 ≦ C < 10.sup.3 (CM only)                          INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                           R = D,E,K, or SXXX; normal or inverted, DC or AC                               where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3                                   OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               K : (Data out of limits) is true if sum ≧ data area modulus of        line C                                                                           D : (Data Ready) is true if R is true                                        TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7C                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: SUBTRACT LOCAL                                                      ______________________________________                                          OPERATION:                                                                              If R is true |A-(B)|  → C                   Note 1.   The difference of the data portion of line B and the A                         Register content is taken modulo 10.sup.4.                           2.        The magnitude of the difference is deposited                                   in the C Register.                                                   3.        Line B is in CM,DM, or I/O.                                          RESTRICTIONS: 0 ≦ A,B or C ≦ 10.sup.4                            INPUT CONDITIONS: R = D,E,K, or SXXX; normal or                                   inverted,   DC or AC where 0 ≦ XXX ≦ 10.sup.3                 OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K: (Sign of Difference) is true when A < (B) and D is true                     D: (Data Ready) is true when R is true                                        TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7D                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: SUBTRACT REMOTE                                                     OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true, | (A)-(B) | → (C).              Note 1.                                                                             The difference of the data portions of lines B and A is                        taken                                                                     2.   The magnitude of the difference is deposited into the data                     portion of line C according to line C data area modulus.                  3.   Lines A and C are located in CM. Line B is in CM, DM, or I/0              RESTRICTIONS: A,B, and C are in BCD;                                                                 0≦A<10.sup.3 (CM)                                 0≦B<10.sup.4 (CM,DM,I/0)                                                0≦C<10.sup.3 (CM)                                                        INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                          R=D, K, E or SXXX; normal or inverted; DC/AC where                             0<XXX≦10.sup.3                                             OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               K: (Sign of Difference) is true if (A) < (B) and D is true.                    D: (Data Ready) is true when R is true                                       TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7E                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MULTIPLY LOCAL                                                      OPERATION:                                                                     If R is true and Line L+1 is a DNS datum and Line is                           ready (see input conditions), AX (B) → C.                               NOTE 1:   The product of A and the data area of Line B is                                calculated module 10.sup.4 and deposited in C.                       NOTE 2:   Line L+1 is used to store partial results and                                  will change during the calculation.                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  A, B, C are in BCD: 0/ ≦ A, B, C < 10.sup.4                             0/ ≦ (B) < 10/.sup.8 (BCD).                                             INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, K or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC                               where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10/ .sup.3. Calculation starts when previous           calculation is completed and R is true, and proceeds till                      completion.                                                                    OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (out of Limit) is true if A × (B) > 10/.sup.4 or if                    (B) > 10/.sup.8 and R is true.                                                 D (data ready) is true for one sweep each time calculation                     is completed.                                                                  D and K are false during calculation.                                          TIMING:                                                                        Multi-sweep. (4 Sweeps)                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7F                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MULTIPLY REMOTE                                                     OPERATION:                                                                     If R is true and line L + 1 is a DNS datum and line is                         ready (see Input Conditions), (A) × (B) → (C).                    NOTE 1:   The product of the data areas of lines B and A                                 is calculated modulo 10/.sup.16 and deposited in Line                          C (converted as required).                                           NOTE 2:   Line L + 1 is used to store partial results and                                will change during the course of the calculation.                    RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  A, B, C are in BCD: 0/ ≦ A, C < 10/.sup.3 (CM only)                     0/ ≦ (B), (A) < 10.sup.8 (BCD): 0/ ≦ B < 10.sup.4                (CM, I/O or DM)                                                                INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, K or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC                               where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3. Calculation starts when previous             calculation is completed and R is true, and proceeds till                      completion.                                                                    OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K:     (Out of limit) is true if (A) × (B) ≧ the data area               modulus of line C or if (A) or (B) ≧ 10/.sup.8 and R is                 true.                                                                   D:     (Data ready) is true for one sweep each time                                   calculation is completed.                                               D and K are false during calculation.                                          TIMING:                                                                        Multi-sweep. (4 Sweeps)                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7G                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: DIVIDE LOCAL                                                        OPERATION:                                                                     If R is true and line is ready (see Input Conditions) and                      Line L+1 is a DNS datum line, the A ÷ (B) → C.                      NOTE 1:   If (B) = 0/, C is set to 9999 and K is turned on.                    NOTE 2:   Line L+1 is used to store partial results and                                  will change during the calculation.                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  A, B, C are BCD: 0/ ≦ A, B, C < 10/.sup.4                               INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, K or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC                              where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3. Calculation starts when previous            calculation is completed and R is true, and proceeds                           till completion.                                                               OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (out of limit) is true if (B) = 0/.                                          D (data ready) is true for one sweep each time                                 calculation is completed.                                                      D and K are false during calculation.                                          TIMING:                                                                        Multi-sweep.                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7H                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT:                                                                             DIVIDE REMOTE                                                          OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true and line is ready (see Input Conditions)                          and Line                                                                       L+1 is a DNS datum line, then (A) ÷ (B) → (C).              NOTE 1: If (B) = 0/, line C is set to its data area modulus -1                         and K                                                                          is turned on.                                                          NOTE 2: Line L+1 is used to store partial results and                                  will change                                                                    during the calculation.                                                RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  A, B, C are in BCD:                                                                         0/ ≦ A, C < 10.sup.3                                                             (CM only)                                                             0/ ≦ B < 10.sup.4                                                                (CM, I/O or DM)                                                                0/ ≦ (B) < 10/.sup.8                              INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC                              Where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3. Calculation starts when previous             calculation                                                                    is completed and R is true, and proceeds till completion.                     OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K: (Out of limit) is true if (B) = 0/ or the quotient exceeds the                data area modulus of Line C.                                                 D: (Data ready) is true for one sweep each time calculation is                   completed.                                                                     D and K are false during calculation.                                       TIMING: Multi-sweep.                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7I                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: COMPARE LOCAL                                                       OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true and if A > (B), true→K, |A -                      (B)| → C                                               Note 1. The numerical difference of the data protion of line B and                     Register A                                                                     is taken. The magnitude of the difference is deposited in                      Register C                                                                     modulo 10.sup.4.                                                       2.      Line B is in CM, I/O, or DM                                            RESTRICTIONS:                                                                            A,B,C are in BCD; 0 ≦ A,B, or C < 10.sup.4                              C result is valid if |A-(B)| < 10.sup.4                      Result is valid for all decimal values of (B)                        INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                           R=D,E,K or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC, where 0                         ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3                                           OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               K: (Compare) is true if A-(B)>0 and D is true                                  D: (Data Ready) is true if R is true                                         TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7J                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: COMPARE REMOTE                                                      OPERATION:  If R is true, |(A)-(B)|  → (C).                       If (A) > (B), true→K                                        Note 1.     The numerical difference of the data areas                                     of lines B and A is taken.                                         2.          The magnitude of the difference is deposited                                   in the data area of line C according                                           to line C data area modulus.                                       3.          A and C are in CM (0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3);                              B is in CM, I/O or DM                                              RESTRICTIONS:                                                                              A,B,C are in BCD;                                                              0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3                                                   0 ≦ B < 10.sup.4                                                        For valid C result, (A) and (B) are decimal                        INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                             R = D,E,K, or SXXX; normal                                                     or inverted, AC or DC                                                          where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3                                 K: (Compare true) is true if (A) - (B) > 0 and D is true.                      D: (Data Ready) is true if R is true                                           TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7K                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MATCH LOCAL                                                         OPERATION:                                                                     If R is True and if A= (B), True → K, | A- (B)|       → C                                                                      1. The numerical difference of the contents of the data portion                 of line B and                                                                  register A is taken and deposited into register C modulo 10.sup.4.            2. Line B is in CM, I/O, or DM                                                RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   A, B, C are in BCD; 0 ≦ A,B,C < 10.sup.4.                               C-result is valid if | A - (B)| < 10.sup.4                   K results are valid for all decimal values of (B).                            INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K, or SXXX where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 ; normal or               inverted, AC or DC.                                                           OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (match) is true if A - (B) = 0 and D is true.                                D (data ready) is true when R is true.                                        TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7L                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MATCH REMOTE                                                        __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                               If R is true and if (A)=(B), true→ K:| (A).sub.C               M -(B) | →(C).sub.CM                                 1.        The decimal difference of the data areas of lines B and A is                   taken and                                                                      deposited into line C data area according to the specified                     modulus.                                                             2.        If lines A and B have similar formats, a binary compare                        (A)XOR(B)=0                                                                    gives the "match" result; Otherwise, (A)-(B)=0 is used for                     "match".                                                             3.        Lines A and C are in CM. Line B is in CM, I/0, or DM.                RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.        A, B, and C are in BCD; 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 ; 0                       ≦B <10.sup.4.                                                 2.        For valid (C) result (A) and (B) must be in BCD.                     3.        K results are valid for all (A) and (B) binary values when                     lines A and B                                                                  have same format.                                                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                         R=D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                        0≦XXX<10.sup.3                                                OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                       K (match) is true if (B) matches (A) AND D is true.                            D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                 TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7M                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: TEST LOCAL                                                          __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                               If R is true and if A ≦ (B) and (B) ≦ C, True                    → K.                                                          1.        The decimal difference of the data area of line B and register                 A is taken.                                                          2.        The decimal difference of register C and the data area of line                 B is taken.                                                          3.        The signs of the two calculations are combined to determine K.       4.        Line B is in CM, I/O, or DM.                                         RESTRICTIONS:                                                                            A, B, C are in BCD; 0 ≦ A, B, C < 10.sup.4                              K is valid for all decimal values of (B).                            INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                        R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                       0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3.                                           OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                       K (in range) is true if (B) - A ≧ 0 and C - (B) ≧                0 and D true.                                                                  D (result ready) is true if R is true.                               TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7N                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: TEST REMOTE                                                         __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                             If R is True and if (A).sub.CM ≦ (B) and (B) ≦                   (C).sub.CM, true → K.                                           1.      The difference of lines B and A and of lines C and B are each                  taken.                                                                         Case I - Lines to be subtracted have same format: Binary subtract              of                                                                             data areas is performed.                                                       Case II - Lines to be subtracted have differing formats: Decimal               subtract                                                                       of data areas is performed.                                            2.      The signs of the two calculations determine K result.                  3.      Lines A and C are in CM. Line B is in DM, I/O, or CM.                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.      A, B, C are in BCD; 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 ; 0 ≦ B <              10.sup.4.                                                              2.      If lines A,B, or C have differing formats, (A),(B),(C), are                    decimal                                                                        for valid result.                                                      3.      Binary code comparisons are valid if (A),(B), and (C) have same                format.                                                                INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D,E,K, or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC where 0 ≦               XXX < 10.sup.3.                                                        OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (in range) is true if (B) - (A) ≧ 0 and (C) - (B)                     ≧ 0 and D true.                                                         D (result ready) is true if R is true.                                 TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7O                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MOVE IN DATA LOCAL                                                  __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true, (B + C)→(A).sub.CM                                1.      The sum of B + C is calculated modulo 10.sup.4.                        2.      The data area of line B + C is deposited into the data area of                 line A                                                                         in the specified format and modulus for line A.                        3.      Line B + C is not modified.                                            4.      Line A is in CM. Line B + C is in CM, I/O, or DM.                      RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.        A, B, C are in BCD: 0 ≦ A < 10.sup.3 and 0 ≦ B or                C < 10.sup.4.                                                        2.        If line A and line B + C are in the same format data is not                    modified                                                                       (transparent).                                                       3.        If formats differ both should contain decimal values for valid                 result.                                                              INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                          R = D, E, K, or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC where                        0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                                   OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                            K (data out of limits) is true if the data area modules                        of line A is exceeded by the data area of line B + C                           and D is true.                                                                 D (data ready) is true if R is true.                            TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7P                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MOVE IN DATA REMOTE                                                 OPERATION:                                                                              If R is true (B + (C).sub.CM)→(A).sub.CM                       1.      The sum of B plus the data area of line C is calculated modulo                 10.sup.4.                                                              2.      The data area of line B + (C) is deposited into the data area of               line A                                                                         in the format and modulus specified for line A.                        3.      Line A and C are in CM. Line B + (C) is in CM, I/O, or DM.             4.      Line B + (C) is not modified.                                          RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   1.     A, B, C are in BCD 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 and 0 ≦ B               < 10.sup.4                                                             2.      For valid results (C) is in decimal                                    3.      If line A and line B + (C)are in same format data is not                       modified                                                                       (transparent)                                                          4.      If formats differ, both should contain decimal values for valid                result.                                                                INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D, E, K, or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC; where                       0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3  (BCD).                                      OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (Data out of limits) is true if the data area modulus                        of Line A is exceeded by the data area of Line B + (C)                         and D is true.                                                                 D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                   TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7Q                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MOVE OUT DATA LOCAL                                                 OPERATION:                                                                     If R is true (A).sub.CM → (B + C).                                      1.     The sum of B + C is calculated modulo 10.sup.4.                         2.     The data area of Line A is non-destrively read,                                the data converted as required, and deposited in the                           data area of line B + C in the specified modulus.                       3.     Line A is in CM. Line B + C is in CM, I/O,                                     or DM.                                                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   1.    A, B, C are in BCD: 0 ≦ A < 10.sup.3 and 0 ≦ B or                C < 10.sup.4.                                                           2.     If line A and line B + C are in the same format data                           is not modified (transparent)                                           3.     If formats differ both should contain decimal values                           for valid result.                                                       INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC                                   or DC where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                                   OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (Data out of limits) is true if the data area                                modulus of Line B + C is exceeded by the data area                             of Line A.                                                                     D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                           TIMING:                                                                               Solved each sweep.                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7R                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT:                                                                             MOVE OUT DATA REMOTE                                                   OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true (A).sub.cm →(B + (C).sub.cm).                      1.      The sum of register B and data area of line C is taken modulo                  10.sup.4.                                                              2.      The data area of line B is read non-destructively. The data is                 converted                                                                      as required and deposited in the data area of line B + (C) at the              specified                                                                      modulus.                                                               3.      Line A and C are in CM. Line B + (C) is in CM, I/O, or DM.             RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.      A, B, C are in BCD: 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 and 0 ≦ B              < 10.sup.4. (C) is in decimal.                                         2.      If line A and line B + (C) are in the same format data is not                  modified                                                                       (transparent).                                                         3.      If formats differ both should contain decimal values for valid                 results.                                                               INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                       0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                                       OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (data out of limits) is true if the data area modulus                        of Line B + (C) is exceeded by the data area of Line                           B + (C) and D is true.                                                         D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                   TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7S                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: PACK DATA LOCAL                                                     OPERATION:                                                                             If R is true (A).sub.cm → (B.sub.CL-CS)                         1.      The data area of Line A is non-destructively read, the                         data converted as required, and deposited into the data area,                  as specified by C.sub.L and C.sub.S, of Line B.                        2.      The characters in the data area of Line B not included within                  the field specified by C.sub.L to C.sub.S are left unchanged.          3.      Line A is in CM. Line B is in CM, I/O, or DM.                          RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.        A, B, C are in BCD: 0/ < 10/.sup.3 ; 0/ ≦ B < 10.sup.4                  0/ ≦(C.sub.S , C.sub.L)≦ 63                            2.        If Line A and Line B are in the same format, data is not                       modified (transparent).                                              3.        If formats differ, the data is converted as required.                INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, S, or K XXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                                   0/ ≦  XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD)                                OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                            K (data out of limits) is true if specified data area of                       Line                                                                           B is greater than the data area of Line A or if the                            character                                                                      positions specified by C (C.sub.L, C.sub.S) are not                            compatible with the                                                            format of Line B.                                                              D (data ready) is true if R is true.                            TIMING:   One (1) sweep.                                                       __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7T                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: PACK DATA REMOTE                                                    OPERATION:                                                                                ##STR1##                                                            1.        The data area of Line A is non destructively read,                             the data converted as required, and deposited into                             the data - area, as specified by Line C, of Line B.                  2.        The characters in the data area of Line B not                                  included within the field specifed by Line C are                               left unchanged.                                                      3.        Lines A and C are in CM. Line B is in CM, I/O,                                 or DM.                                                               4.        The 2 LSD's of Line C will specify the destination                             Start Character position, and 3rd and 4th LSD's                                of Line C will specify the number of                                           characters to be moved.                                              RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.        A,B,C are in BCD:                                                                             0 ≦ A, C < 10.sup.3                                                     (CM only)                                                                      0 ≦ B < 10.sup.4                                                        (CM, I/O or DM)                                       2.        If Line A and line B are in the same format, data                              is not modified (transparent).                                       3.        If formats differ, the data is converted as required.                INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D,E,S or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or                                   DC where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                              OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (data out of limits) is true if the specified data                           area of Line B is greater than the data of Line A                              or if the character positions specified by Line C                              are not compatible with the format of Line B.                                  D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                   TIMING    One (1) sweep.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7U                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: UNPACK DATA LOCAL                                                   OPERATION:                                                                              ##STR2##                                                              1.      A portion of the data area of Line B, as specified by C.sub.L and              C.sub.S, is                                                                    non-destructively read, the data converted as                                  required, and deposited, right justified and zero filled,                      into the data area of Line A.                                          2.      Line A is in CM. Line B is in CM, I/O or DM.                           RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.      A, B, C are in BCD: 0/≦ A < 10/.sup.3 ; 0/≦ B <                  10/.sup.4                                                                      0/≦ C.sub.S, C.sub.L ≦ 63                                2.      If Line A and Line B are in the same format, data is not                       modified (transparent)                                                 3.      If formats differ, the data is converted as required.                  INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                       0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD)                                      OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (data out of limits) is true if the specified data area of Line              B                                                                              is too small to accomodate the source information in Line A, or                if                                                                             the character positions in C (C.sub.L, C.sub.S) are not                        compatible with                                                                the format of Line B.                                                          D (data ready) is true if R is true                                    TIMING:                                                                                One (1) Sweep                                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7V                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: UNPACK DATA REMOTE                                                  OPERATION:                                                                              ##STR3##                                                              1.      A portion of the data area of Line B, as specified by Line C is                non-                                                                           destructively read, the data converted as required, and                        deposited, right                                                               justified and zero filled, into the data area of Line A.               2.      Line A is in CM. Line B is in CM, I/O or DM.                           3.      The 2 LSD's of the data area of Line C will specify C.sub.S, the               source                                                                         start character position, and the 3rd and 4th LSD's specify                    C.sub.L,                                                                       the number of characters to be moved.                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  1.      A,B,C are in BCD: 0/ ≦ A, C < 10.sup.3 (CM only)                        0 ≦ B < 10/.sup.4 (CM, I/O or DM)                               2.      If Line A and Line B are in the same format, data is not                       modified                                                                       (transparent).                                                         3.      If formats differ, the data is converted as required.                  INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R = D,E,S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                         0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD).                                     OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K (data out of limits) is true if the specified data area of Line              (B) is                                                                         too small to accommodate the source information in Line (A), or                if the                                                                         character positions in (C) are not compatible with the format of               Line (B).                                                                      D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                   TIMING:                                                                                One (1) sweep.                                                         __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7W                                     __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: FIFO PAIR                                                           OPERATION: FIRST IN LINE                                                       1.      When R.sub.L is true and Line L + 1 is a FIRST OUT Line:                       a.                                                                               If B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1 < C.sub.L < B.sub.L (i.e. Line C.sub.L                  is not within the                                                              designated stack) the B.sub.L → C.sub.L and no data                     transfer will                                                                  take place.                                                                  b.                                                                               If the Koil (L) is off, then the data area of Line A.sub.L,                    converted as required, will be deposited into Line C.sub.L.                  c.                                                                               If C.sub.L = B.sub.L+1 and the Koil (L) if off, the B.sub.L                    → C.sub.L.                                                            d.                                                                               If the Koil (L) is off, and C.sub.L < B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1 the                  C.sub.L + 1 → C.sub.L.                                                e.                                                                               If as a result of b, or c, or d C.sub.L = C.sub.L+1 the Koil                   will be                                                                        off.                                                                 OPERATION: FIRST OUT LINE                                                       1.     When R.sub.L+1 is true and Line L is a FIRST IN Line:                          a.                                                                               If B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1 < C.sub.L+1 < B.sub.L (i.e., Line                       C.sub.L+1 is not within the                                                    designated stack area) then B.sub.L → c.sub.L+1 and no                  data transfer will                                                             take place.                                                                  b.                                                                               If the Koil (L+1) is on, then no data transfer will take place                 and C.sub.L+1 will not be changed.                                           c.                                                                               If the Koil (L+1) is off, then the data area of Line                           C.sub.L+1,                                                                     converted as required, will be deposited into Line A.sub.L+1.                d.                                                                               If C.sub.L+1 = B.sub.L +B.sub.L+1 and the Koil (L+1) is off,                   then B.sub.L ∵ C.sub.L+1.                                            f.                                                                               If as a result of a, or d, or e, C.sub.L+1 = C.sub.L then the                  Koil (L+1)                                                                     is turned on, otherwise the Koil (L+1) is off.                       OPERATION: FIRST IN LINE (A).sub.CM → (C)                                       If R.sub.L is true and Line L+1 is a FIRST OUT Line and the Stack              is not full (K.sub.L is off) then:                                     1.      The data area of Line A.sub.L is non-destructively read, con-                  verted as required and deposited into Line C.sub.L.                    2.      C.sub.L (FI Pointer) is then incremented; C.sub.L + 1 →                 C.sub.L                                                                        Note:                                                                              If C.sub.L + 1 > B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1 - 1 (i.e. before                          execution                                                                      C.sub.L was pointing to the last address in the stack)                         then B.sub.L → C (i.e. C.sub.L is reset to the Start                    address                                                                        of the stack).                                                     3.      If after the previous step (2), the resultant value of C.sub.L                 is equal to C.sub.L+1, then the coil of Line L shall be turned                 on to indicate that the stack is full.                                 4.      The coil of Line L+1 (stack empty) will be cleared.                    OPERATION: FIRST OUT LINE                                                              If R.sub.L+1 and Line L is a FIRST IN Line and the stack is not                empty                                                                          (K.sub.L+1 is off) then:                                               1.      The data area of Line C.sub.L+1 is non-destructively read, con-                verted as required, and deposited into the data area of                        Line A.sub.L+1.                                                        2.      C.sub.L+1 (FO Pointer) is then incremented; C.sub.L+1 + 1                      → C.sub.L+1                                                             Note:                                                                              If C.sub.L+1 +1 > B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1 - 1 (i.e. before                         execution                                                                      C.sub.L+1 was pointing to the last address in the stack)                       then B.sub.L → C.sub.L+1 (i.e. C.sub.L+1 is reset to                    the Start address                                                              of the stack).                                                     3.      If after the previous step (2), the resultant value of C.sub.L+1               is equal to C.sub.L, then the coil of Line L+1 will be turned                  on to indicate that the stack is empty.                                4.      The coil of Line L (stack full) will be cleared.                       RESTRICTIONS:                                                                          A.sub.L, B.sub.L, C.sub.L, A.sub.L+1, B.sub.L+1, and C.sub.L+1                 are all in BCD.                                                                0/ ≦ A.sub.L, A.sub.L+1 < 10/.sup.3 (CM only)                           0/ ≦ B.sub.L, <10/.sup.4 (CM, I/O or DM)                                0/ < B.sub.L+1 < 10/.sup.4 - B.sub.L                                           B.sub.L ≦ C.sub.L, C.sub.L-1 < B.sub.L + B.sub.L+1              INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                      R.sub.L, R.sub.L+1 = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or               DC where                                                                       0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD).                                     OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                     K.sub.L (buffer FULL) is true if the input (FI) pointer has                    cycled and                                                                     is equal to the output (FO) pointer.                                           K.sub.L+1 (buffer EMPTY) is true if the output pointer has                     "caught up to"                                                                 the input (FI) pointer.                                                        D.sub.L, D.sub.L+1 are true if R.sub.L, R.sub.L+1 are true,                    respectively.                                                          TIMING:                                                                                Both are solved each sweep.                                            __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7X                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MOVE IN LINE LOCAL                                                  ______________________________________                                         OPERATION: If R is true (B + C)*→(A)* .sub.CM                           1.         The sum of B plus C is calculated                                              modulo 10.sup.4.                                                    2.         The entire line B + C is read non-                                             destructively and written into location A                                      without modification. The D and K con-                                         ditions of line B are also transferred                              3.         Line A is in CM. Line B + C is in CM,                                          I/O, or DM.                                                         RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   A, B, C are in BCD: 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 0 ≦ B                 < 10.sup.4.                                                                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K or SXXX normal or inverted, AC or DC,                              where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD)                                         OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                           K is false.                                                                   TIMING: solved each sweep                                                      ______________________________________                                          *Entire Line (80/ bits)                                                  

                  TABLE 7Z                                                         ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MOVE OUT LINE LOCAL                                                 ______________________________________                                         OPERATION: If R is true (A)*.sub.CM → (B + C)*                          1.         The sum of register B and C is taken                                           modulo 10.sup.4.                                                    2.         The entire line at A is read non-                                              destructively and written into location                                        B + C The D, K conditions of line                                              B + C are also transferred to Line A.                               3.         Line A is in CM.                                                               Location B + C is in CM, I/O or DM.                                 RESTRICTIONS: A, B, C are in BCD. 0 ≦ A < 10.sup.3                       and 0 ≦ B or C < 10.sup.4.                                             INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted,                                      AC or DC where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                               OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K is false                                                                     D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                          TIMING: Solved each sweep                                                      ______________________________________                                          *Entire line (80/ bits)                                                  

                  TABLE 7AA                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MOVE OUT LINE REMOTE                                                ______________________________________                                         OPERATION: If R is true (A)* .sub.CM → (B + (C).sub.CM)*                1.         The sum of register B and the data area of                                     line C is taken modulo 10.sup.4.                                    2.         The entire line at A is read non-destructively                                 and written into location B+(C) The D                                          and K conditions of line B+(C) are also                                        transferred to line A.                                              3.         Lines A and C are in CM. Location B+(C) is                                     in CM, I/O, or DM.                                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   A, B, C are in BCD: 0 ≦ A or C < 10.sup.3 and                           0 ≦ B < 10.sup.4. For valid results (C) is decimal.                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted,                                      AC or DC where 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                               OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K is false                                                                     D (data) ready is true if R is true.                                          TIMING:                                                                         Solved each sweep.                                                            ______________________________________                                          *Entire line (80 bits)                                                   

                                      TABLE 7BB                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MOVE IN BLOCK LOCAL                                                 __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                              When enable condition is true and L+C -1 <399(i.e. move does                   not                                                                            extend out of ACTIVE Line area), then (B)*→L+1,                         (B+1)*→L+2,* (B+C)*→L+                                           C Where L is location of Instruction.                                 1.       When the A node output is true, a block of lines C long in                     number, are                                                                    retrieved from locations in the CM, DM, or I/O, beginning at                   line B.                                                                        The block is deposited beginning at L+1 and continues for C                    lines.                                                                         Processing of lines L+1 through L+C is suspended for any sweep                 in                                                                             which the Move In Block instruction is executed. When examined                 by the                                                                         programming panel, the affected lines appear paralyzed at this                 time.                                                                 2.       The maximum number of lines affected by the Move In Block                      statement may                                                                  not extend beyond Line 399. Thus if L+C > 399 the BLOCK MOVE                   will not                                                                       take place and the coil will be turned on.                            3.       The source address B, B+1,----B+C-1 is computed modulo 10.sup.4       RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   B and C are in BCD: 0/ ≦ B,C < 10.sup.4                                 If L is affected by a previous Block Move or Suspend it is                     inactive.                                                                     INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D,E,S or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                               A = D,E,S or KXXXX, normal or inverted, where                                  0 ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3.                                                   OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (error) is true if C+L > 399                                                 D (enable) is true when R and A is true                                       TIMING: Solved each sweep                                                      __________________________________________________________________________      *Entire Line                                                             

                                      TABLE 7CC                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MOVE IN BLOCK REMOTE                                                __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                              When enable is true and L+(C)-1<399 (i.e. Move does not extend                 out of                                                                         ACTIVE line area), then ((B))*→L+1, ((B))+1*→L+2,                ---, ((B) + (C)-)→L+C                                                   where L is location of instruction.                                   1.  When the A node output is true, the data area of Line C is taken               modulo                                                                         10.sup.3 and used to specify the number of lines to be transferred.            The data                                                                       area of Line B, taken modulo 10.sup.4 specifies the first source               location.                                                                      A block of lines (C) long in number, are retrieved from locations in           the CM, DM, or I/O, beginning at line (B). The block is deposited              beginning at L+1 and continues for (C) lines. Processing of lines              L+1                                                                            through L+(C) is suspended for any sweep in which the Block Move               instruc-                                                                       tion is executed. When examined by the progamming panel, the                   affected                                                                       lines appear paralyzed at this time.                                       2.  The maximum number of lines affected by the Block Get statement may            not extend beyond Line 399. Thus, if L+C > 399 the block move will             not                                                                            take place and the coil will be turned on.                                 3.  The source address (B), (B)+1----(B)+(C).sup.1 is computed modulo              10.sup.4.                                                                  4.  Line B may be in CM, DM, or I/O. Line C is in CM only.                     RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  B and C are in BCD; 0 < B > 10.sup.4, 0 > C < 10.sup.3                         0 < (B) < 10, 0 < (C) <300-L                                                   INPUT CONDITIONS                                                               R = D,E,S or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                               A = D,E,S or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                                   0 ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3                                                     OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (error) is true if (C)+L-1>399                                               D (enable) is true when R and A is true                                        TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________      *Entire Line (80 bits)                                                   

                                      TABLE 7DD                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: MOVE OUT BLOCK LOCAL                                                __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                     1.  When A is true and L+C-1<399, processing of the following                      C Lines will be suspended and these lines will be stored in                    a block of memory starting at Line B and                                       ending at Line B+C-1.                                                      2.  If C + L> 399 (BCD) or B + C> 9999, then the coil will                         turn on and the statement will not be executed.                            3.  Entire (80 bit) lines are moved.                                           RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  B and C are in BCD;                                                                          0/ ≦ B < 10/.sup.4 (CM, I/O or DM)                                      0/ ≦ C < 400 -L (BCD)                                                   B+C< 10.sup.4                                                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, K, or S XXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                           A = D, E, K, or S XXX, normal or inverted,                                     where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3                                               OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (error) is true if C + L > 399 or B + C > 9999                               D (*enable) is true if R and A is true.                                        TIMING:                                                                        Solved each sweep.                                                             __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7EE                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: MOVE OUT BLOCK REMOTE                                               ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  When A is true and L + (C) - 1 <399, processing of the                         following (C) Lines will be suspended                                          and these lines will be stored in a block of memory                            starting at Line (B) up to Line (B) + (C).                                 2.  If (C) + L >399 (BCD) or (B) + (C) >9999 then the coil                         will be turned on and the statement will not be executed.                  3.  Entire (80 bit) lines are moved.                                           RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   B and C are in BCD; 0/ ≦ B, C <10/.sup.3 (CM only)                      (B) and (C) are converted as required to BCD;                                   O ≦ (B) < 10.sup.4 (CM, I/O, DM)                                        O < (C) < 400 -L (BCD)                                                       INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K, or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                            A = D, E, K or SXXX, normal or inverted,                                       where 0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD)                                        OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (error) is true if (C) +  L > 399 or (B) + (C) > 9999                        D (enable) is true if R and A are true.                                       TIMING:                                                                         Solved each sweep.                                                            ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 7FF                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: SUSPEND LOCAL                                                       __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                             When the Enable condition is True and C+L-1<399 the subsequent C               lines                                                                          are not processed.                                                     1.      K and D Condition bits and data generated by these lines will not              change                                                                         when line is active.                                                   2.      Input conditions of these lines are not sensed                         3.      The maximum number of lines affected may not exceed the interval               from the                                                                       location of the paralyze statement to the end of the active line               area in the                                                                    command memory (line 399) i.e. - no "wrap around". e.g. - If line              is                                                                             located at location L and C <399 - L, C lines are affected; but                if C≧400-L,                                                             the coil is turned on and the following 400L lines are not                     "suspended."                                                           4.      C register is taken modulo 10.sup.3.                                   RESTRICTIONS: C is in BCD                                                       For valid result 0 ≦ C < 99 - L where L is command memory              location                                                                        of line when executed. If L is within an area affected by a previous          active                                                                          Suspend or Block Move statement it will not operate when paralyzed.           INPUT CONDITIONS: R, A, and B are condition references D-, E, K, or SXXX       where XXX                                                                       is in BCD; 0 ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3. The A and B contact functions can       each be                                                                         specified as follows:                                                          ##STR4##                                                                       The Enable condition is thus a function of the R, A, and B conditions.         R is normal or inverted, AC or DC.                                            OUTPUT CONDITIONS: K (error) is True if C+L > 399                               D (enable) is true when R and A and B are true.                               TIMING: Solved each sweep.                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7GG                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT: SUSPEND REMOTE                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                             When the enable condition is true and (C)+L-1<399, the                         subsequent                                                                     (C) lines are not processed.                                           1.      Condition bits and data generated by these lines will not change               when line is active.                                                   2.      Input conditions of these lines are not sensed.                        3.      The maximum number of lines affected may not exceed the interval               from the                                                                       location of the paralyze statement to the end of the active line               area in the                                                                    command memory (line 399) i.e. - no "wrap-around". e.g. - if line              is                                                                             located at location L and (C) < 399-  L (C) lines are affected                 but if                                                                         (C) ≧ 200- L, the coil is turned on and the following 400-              L lines are not "suspended".                                           4.      (C) is the contents of the data area of line C taken modulo                    10.sup.3.                                                              RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   C is in BCD. For valid result (C) is a decimal quantity O ≦ (C) <      199 - L                                                                         where L is CM location of statement when executed. If L is within an          area                                                                            affected by a previous active paralyze or block get statement will not         operate when paralyzed.                                                       INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R, A, and B are condition references D-, E-, K or SXXX where XXX is in         BCD : 0≦ XXX <10.sup.3. The A and B contact functions can be           specified as                                                                    follows:                                                                       ##STR5##                                                                       The enable condition is thus a function of the R, A, and B conditions.         R may be normal or inverted, DC or AC.                                        OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (error) is true if (C)+L<399                                                 D (enable) is true when R and A and B are true.                               TIMING: Solved each sweep                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7HH                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT:    COUNT, REF      LOCAL                                                          TIMER  1.0 sec.                                                                       0.1 sec.                                                                       0.01 sec.                                                 OPERATION:    1.                                                                               When reset condition is true, O→C.                                    2.                                                                               When reset condition is False and count condition is                           True:                                                                          2a. If C<B, C + 1→C                                                     2b. If C≧B, O→C                                                3.                                                                               When reset condition is false and count condition is                           False, C is                                                                    not modified.                                                  RESTRICTIONS: B and C are in BCD; 0 ≦ B, C < 10.sup.4                                 DC reference should be chosen with T=1.0, 0.1, or 0.01.          INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                            R and A refer to D, E, K, or SXXX; where 0 ≦XXX <                       10.sup.3 (BCD)                                                                  ##STR6##                                                                      normal or inverted, DC or AC. R and T is count condition.                      If                                                                             type selected is R, T is always True. If type selected is                      1.0, 0.1,                                                                      or 0.01, T is True for one sweep every 1.0, 0.1, or 0.01                       second                                                                         respectively. (Accuracy is 0.1% ± 1/2T ± 10msec). (DC                    reference should                                                               be selected).                                                    OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                                           K (count output) is true when C ≧ B                                     D (data ready) is true when count is true                        __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7II                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STATEMENT:  COUNT,     REF.       REMOTE                                                   TIMER      1.0 sec                                                                        0.1 sec                                                                        0.01 sec                                                __________________________________________________________________________     OPERATION:                                                                       When Reset is true 0 → (C).sub.cm.                                      When Reset is false and count is true data areas of lines B and C are          compared.                                                                      2a. If (C).sub.CM < (B), (C).sub.CM + 1 → (C).sub.cm - Data area        of line C is incremented                                                       per its modulus.                                                               2b. If (C).sub.CM > (B), 0 → (C).sub.cm - Data area of line C is        cleared.                                                                       When reset is false and count is false (C).sub.cm is not modified.             Line B is in CM, I/O or DM. Line C is in CM.                                 RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   B and C are in BCD: 0 ≦ B < 10.sup.4 and 0 ≦ C                  < 10.sup.3.                                                                     (B) and (C) decimal values are used. If line C is a statement and (B)         ≧ 10.sup.4 (BCD)                                                         or if line C is ASCII, F1 or F2 datum and (B) > 10.sup.8 count will not       reach                                                                           preset, but will return to zero at line C modulus. K will be false.           INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R and A refer to D-E-, K-, or SXXX where SXXX ≦ 10.sup.3 (BCD).         A or .sup.-A may be selected as reset condition. R may be normal or           inverted,                                                                       DC or AC. [R and T] is count condition. If type selected is Reference,         T is always true. If type selected is 1.0, 0.1 or 0.01 sec T is true for      one sweep (DC                                                                   R Ref should be used) every 1.0, 0.1 or 0.01 second respectively.              [Accuracy is 0.1% ± 1/2T ± 5msec]. An R transition (AC ref) is          held until                                                                      T-event occurs.                                                               OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (count output) is true when C > (B.)                                         D (data ready) is true when R is true.                                        __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 7JJ                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: UP/DOWN COUNT LOCAL                                                 ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.    When reset condition is true, 0/ → C.                             2.    If R is true and A is true and C < 9999, then C + 1 → C                 and 0/ → KOIL; otherwise C = 9999 and KOIL is on.                 3.    If R is true and A is false and C > 0/, then C-1 → C and                0/ → KOIL; otherwise C = 0/ and the koil is on.                   4.    When reset condition and R are false, C is not modified.                 RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  C is in BCD; 0/ ≦ C < 10/.sup.4                                         INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, S, or K XXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                           A, B = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                             0/≦XXX≦10.sup.3.                                                 OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (data out of limits) is true if the count either overflows                   (≧10.sup.4) or underflows (<0/).                                        D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                           TIMING:                                                                        One (1) sweep.                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7KK                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: UP/DOWN COUNT REMOTE                                                ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  When reset condition is true, 0 → (C).                              2.  If R is true and A is true and (C) < capacity of line C's                      data area modulus, (C) + 1 → (C) and 0/ koil; otherwise                 koil is on and (C) is not modified.                                        3.  If R is true and A is true and (C)>0/, then (C) - 1 and                        0/→koil; otherwise koil is on and (C) is not modified.              4.  When R and B are false, (C) is not modified.                               RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   C is in BCD; 0/ ≦ C < 10.sup.3.                                        INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                            A, B, = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                            0/ ≦ XXX ≦10.sup.3.                                             OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (data out of limits) is true if the count either overflows                   (function of modulus of C) or underflows (<0/)                                 D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                          TIMING:                                                                         One (1) sweep.                                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7LL                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: BIT MANIPULATE LOCAL                                                ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  The state of bit number C in Line B will be transferred                        into the koil.                                                             2.  When R is true bit number C in Line B will follow the A                        contact.                                                                   3.  If R is true and A is true, a 1 will be put into bit number                    C in Line B.                                                               4.  If R is true and A is false,a 0/ will be put into bit number                   C in Line B.                                                               RESTRICTIONS: - C is in BCD: 0/ ≦ C ≦ 63                          Line B is in CM, I/0 or DM                                                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                            A = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                                0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3                                                   OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (result) is true if Line B bit C (before any modification)                   is a "1", otherwise K is false.                                                D (ready) is true when R is true.                                             TIMING:                                                                         One (1) sweep.                                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7MM                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: BIT MANIPULATE REMOTE                                               ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  The state of bit number (C) in Line (B) will be                                transferred into the koil.                                                 2.  When R is true and A is true, bit number (C) in Line (B)                       will be set to a "1".                                                      3.  When R is true and A is false, bit number (C) in Line                          (B) will be cleared to a "0/".                                             RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   B, C are in BCD: 0≦C<10.sup.3, 0≦B<10.sup.4                     INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC.                            A = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                                0≦XXX<10.sup.3.                                                        OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (result) is true if Line (B) bit number (C) (before any                      modification due to R = 1) is a "1",                                           otherwise K is false.                                                          D (ready) is true when R is true.                                             TIMING:                                                                        One (1) sweep.                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7NN                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: BIT MATCH LOCAL                                                     ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  When R is true and K is false, each bit in Line B and Line                     A are sequentially compared starting with bit number C.                    2.  If R is true and K is true, each bit in Line B and Line A                      are sequentially compared starting with bit number C + 1.                  3.  If a miscompare is detected, C will be set to the bit number                   which does not compare and the koil will be turned on and                      processing of this line is temporarily terminated (till next                   scan in which R is true - i.e., miscompares result in a                        multi-sweep statement).                                                    4.  After the list bit (63) has been compared, the koil will be                    turned off and D will be turned on, and C = 0/.                            RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   A, B, and C are in BCD: 0/ ≦ A < 10.sup.3 (CM only)                    0/ ≦ B < 10.sup.4 (CM, I/O or DM)                                       0/ ≦ C < 63                                                             INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R =  D, E, K or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                       0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                                             OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (bit miscompare) is true if a mismatch is detected, otherwise                K is false .                                                                   D (match done) is true if R is true and after bit 63 has been                  compared; (for one scan).                                                     TIMING:                                                                         Multi-sweep: 64 sweeps maximum (no two bits compare); 1                        sweep minimum (all bits compare).                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7OO                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: BIT MATCH REMOTE                                                    ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.  When R is true and K is false, each bit in Line B and                          Line A are sequentially compared starting with bit                             number (C).                                                                2.  If R is true and K is true, each bit in Line B and                             Line A are sequentially compared starting with bit                             number (C) + 1.                                                            3.  If a miscompare is detected, (C) will be set to the bit                        number (BCD) which does not compare and the koil will be                       turned on and processing of this line is temporarily                           terminated (till next scan in which R is true - i.e.                           iscompares result in a multi-sweep statement).                             4.  After the last bit (63) has been compared, the koil will                       be turned off and D will be turned on and (C) = 0/.                        RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  A,B, and C are in BCD:                                                                         0/ ≦ A, C < 10.sup.3 (CM only)                                          0/ ≦(B)< 10.sup.4 (CM, I/O or DM)                                       0/ ≦ (C) ≦ 63                                    INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, K or SXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC where                        0/ ≦ XXX < 10.sup.3 (BCD).                                             OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (bit miscompare) is true if a mismatch is detected,                          otherwise K is false.                                                          D (match done) is true if R is true and after bit 63 has been                  compared, (for one scan).                                                     TIMING:                                                                         Multi-sweep: 64 sweeps maximum (no two bits compare);                          1 sweep minimum (all bits compare).                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7PP                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: SHIFT LOCAL                                                         ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1.    When R is true and the A node output is true:                                  a) The state of the B-node will be shifted into the                            MSB of C.                                                                      b) C will be shifted one position to the right.                                c) The LSB of C will be shifted into the koil bit                                     Data In  C.sub.100 (Hex)                                                                          K.sub.100                                      ______________________________________                                         Sweep N-1:   0/       10/22     0/                                             N :          0/       0/811     0/                                             N+1:         1        840/8     1                                              N+2:         0/       420/4     0/                                             2.  When R is true and A is false:                                                 a) The MSB of C will be transformed into the koil condition.                   b) C will then be shifted one position to the left.                            c) The state of the B-Node will then be shifted into the                       LSB of C.                                                                  RESTRICTIONS:                                                                  C shall be binary datum: 0/ ≦ C ≦ FFFF (Hexadecimal)             INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC.                            A, B = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                             0 ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD).                                              OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K (data out) is true if the LSB (MSB) of C is true,                            B is true and A is true (False).                                               D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                           TIMING:                                                                        One (1) sweep.                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7QQ                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: SHIFT REMOTE                                                        ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1. When R is true and A is true:                                                a) The LSB of Line C will be shifted into the koil bits.                       b) Line C will be shifted one bit to the right.                                c) The state of the B-node will replace the MSB of Line C.                    2. When R is true and A is false:                                               a) The MSB of Line C will be shifted into the koil bit.                        b) Line C will be shifted one bit to the left.                                 c) The state of the B-node will replace the LSB of Line C.                    RESTRICTIONS:                                                                   Line C is in CM: 0/ ≦ C < 10.sup.3 (BCD)                               INPUT CONDITIONS:                                                               R = D, E, S, or KXXX, normal or inverted, AC or DC;                            A, B = D, E, S or KXXX, normal or inverted, where                              0/ ≦ XXX < 10/.sup.3 (BCD).                                            OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                              K (data out) is true if the LSB (MSB) of Line C is true and                    A is true (false).                                                             D (data ready) is true if R is true.                                          TIMING:                                                                         One (1) sweep.                                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7RR                                                        ______________________________________                                         STATEMENT: LOGIC                                                               OPERATION : When the logic function formed by contacts R,                      A, B, C (result) is true, K is true.                                           INPUT CONDITIONS: R, A, B, or C may refer to D-, E-, K or                      SXXX where XXX is in BCD;                                                      0 < XXX < 10.sup.3.                                                            CONTACT SPECIFICATION: A, B, or C may each be                                  specified as follows:                                                           ##STR7##                                                                       ##STR8##                                                                       ##STR9##                                                                       ##STR10##                                                                      ##STR11##                                                                      ##STR12##                                                                      ##STR13##                                                                     OUTPUT CONDITIONS: K: (Coil) is true if result is true.                        D: (Ready) is true when R is True.                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7SS                                                        ______________________________________                                         DATUM: DIS, BCD, ASCII, DNS                                                    ______________________________________                                         OPERATION:                                                                     1. Arithmetic, Data Transfer and Count Statements will convert                  the referenced datums as required: (see below and individual                   statements).                                                                  2. The DNS (Data No-Store) is used for output transformers                      (920-929) and for statement extension lines (Multiply, Divide).                A DNS Datum can only be changed by a Line Transfer                             statement.                                                                    OUTPUT CONDITIONS:                                                             K is false when Datum is processed.                                            D is false when Datum is processed.                                            CONVERSION RULES:                                                              1. No conversion is required when operations involve datums                     of the same type.                                                             2. DIS to BCD and BCD to DIS require no conversion.                            3. DIS, BCD or DNS to ASCII.                                                    The least significant 32 (8 hex digits) bits of the DIS or                     BCD datum will be converted to 8 ASCII characters.                             See FIG. 16SSA                                                                4. ASCII to BCD or DIS.                                                         The 8 ASCII characters will be converted to 8 BCD and/or                       DIS digits according to the least significant 4 bits of each                   ASCII character (see chart below). See FIG. 16SSB                             5. STATEMENT to ASCII:                                                          The C-field of the Statement Line will be treated as                           four BCD digits and converted to 4 ASCII digits in the                         ASCII datum Line B as C fields with "NULLS" inserted into                      the ASCII datum Rad A fields. See FIG. 16SSC                                  6. STATEMENT to BCD or DIS:                                                     The C-field of the Statement Line will be treated as                           four BCD digits and transferred transparently to the                           C-field of the BCD or DIS datum line with the BCD or DIS                       Line R, P, and B fields set to zero. See FIG. 16SSD                           7. ASCII to Statement                                                           The B and C fields of the ASCII Line will be converted                         to BCD (see conversion chart below) and placed, as 4 BCD                       digits into the C-field of the Statement Line.                                 See FIG. 16SSE                                                                8. BCD, DIS, or DNS to STATEMENT                                                The C-field of the BCD, DIS or DNS Line will be                                transferred transparently to the C-field of the State-                         ment Line:                                                                    9. LOGIC To Any Other Line Type                                                 If a LOGIC Line is used as a source data reference,                            the resultant value shall be "0/". A Logic Line will                           remain unchanged if used as a destination data reference.                     ______________________________________                                    

Operations such as integration, statistical calculation, message or recipe input or output, and program loading are all accomplished with the aid of these instructions. Since "line moves" can modify both instruction and condition data, caution is required to avoid operating on transformers or "active" lines since unpredictable behavior can result.

The "pack" statements provide data transfer in a data area of one line to a specifiable data area of a second line. The "unpack" statements provide data transfer from a specifiable data area of one line to a right justified data area of another line, with zero fill to the left of the data so transferred. The "FIFO" line provides for a first-in-first-out transfer of data.

Bit Orientated (FIGS. 16LL-16QQ, Tables 7LL-7QQ)

The bit test instructions are useful for condition referencing, code interpretation, and input/output "hand-shaking." They can be used to test any bit of any line within the command memory, data memory or I/O system. The "bit manipulate" remote statement allows external indexing of both the line number and bit position, permitting matrix and sequential state processes to be implemented. The "bit match" statements permit matching of a sequence of bits in two different lines.)

Count and Timer (FIGS. 16HH-16KK, Tables 7HH-7KK)

The count statement is capable of counting either discrete events or selectable timing signals. The ready (D) condition pulses whenever a signal is applied to the count input (regardless of the status of the reset input). When counting, the count value returns to zero if equality of preset and count has occurred. Note also that the preset value for a remote counter may be located anywhere in memory.

When timing (1.0, 0.1, 0.01 sec.) is selected, and an AC (transitional) reference is made, the occurrence of the timing event (tick) will not, in general, occur the same sweep as the detected reference transition; thus a count occurs. Only if the transition coincides with the tick, will the D-condition occur when the reference condition is true.

Time basis (ticks) for counter statements are generated by each command memory by counting scan cycles, since these cycles are exactly 10 milliseconds. The timing signals are generated in the GTCU 14, discussed more fully infra.

Suspend (FIGS. 16FF-16GG, Tables 7FF-7GG)

Suspend statements are unique in that they affect other lines in the command memory according to the relative position of the suspend statement with respect to these other lines. The suspend instruction suspends processing of a specified number of succeeding lines. Its influence will not extend beyond the end of the current scan (i.e., no wrap-around). It is generally used during program transfer.

Block Statements (FIGS. 16BB-16EE, Tables 7BB-7EE)

These statements sweep data into or out of a block of lines immediately following the line itself. In this respect, they resemble the suspend function. They are used primarily in high-speed program modification within a single scan. As with other program-moving statements, they must be used cautiously. Lines brought in while such a line is active are not themselves executed.

Logic (FIG. 16RR, Table RR)

The logic statement is functionally equivalent to an electrical relay ladder line as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639, incorporated herein, and presently used in commercial programmable controllers; e.g., the Model 084 and 184 of the Modicon Corporation, Andover, Massachusetts. The R-node can make a static (DC) or transitional (AC) reference, and directly controls the ready (D) coil. All four term combinations of AND or OR expressions (with no parentheses) are possible.

Datum (FIGS. 16SS, 16SSA-16SSF, Tables 7SS, 8 and 9)

Basically, a datum only stores data; however, when located in the active area of command memory, it contains both a coil (K) and ready (D) condition bit. When a move in line or move out line instruction moves a datum into an active line, the coil bits of this line will be affected when the move occurs. References made to this coil are useful under certain circumstances in controlling data transfers within the PPC system. Tables 8 and 9 illustrate conversion from ASCII data to BCD or DIS and from hexadecimal to ASCII respectively.

                                      TABLE 8                                      __________________________________________________________________________     ASCII to BCD or DIS Conversion Chart:                                          BCD DIGIT                                                                             ASCII CHARACTERS                                                        __________________________________________________________________________     0 ←                                                                              SP                                                                               or  0/                                                                              or  @                                                                               or  P                                                                               or  or  P                                              1 ←                                                                              ! 1    A    Q    a   q                                                  2 ←                                                                              " 2    B    R    b   r                                                  3 ←                                                                              # 3    C    S    c   s                                                  4 ←                                                                              $ 4    D    T    d   t                                                  5 ←                                                                              % 5    E    U    e   u                                                  6 ←                                                                              & 6    F    V    f   v                                                  7 ←                                                                              ' 7    G    W    g   w                                                  8 ←                                                                              ( 8    H    X    h   x                                                  9 ←                                                                              ) 9    I    Y    i   y                                                  2 ←                                                                              * :    J    Z    j   z                                                  3 ←                                                                              + ;    K    (    k   {                                                  4 ←                                                                              , <    L         l   l                                                  5 ←                                                                              - =    M    )    m   }                                                  6 ←                                                                              . >    N    ↑                                                                             n   ˜                                            7 ←                                                                              / ?    O    ←                                                                              o   DEL RUB OUT)                                       __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         HEX (BCD, DIS, DNS) to ASCII Conversion Chart:                                 HEX (BCD) DIGIT  ASCII CHARACTERS                                              ______________________________________                                         0/ →      0/                                                            1 →       1                                                             2 →       2                                                             3 →       3                                                             4 →       4                                                             5 →       5                                                             6 →       6                                                             7 →       7                                                             8 →       8                                                             9 →       9                                                             A →       :                                                             B →       ;                                                             C →       <                                                             D →       =                                                             E →       >                                                             F →       ?                                                             ______________________________________                                    

Statement Timing

To clarify the operation of single-scan, multiscan, and counting lines, timing diagrams FIGS. 17 through 20 give timing examples for these line types. All timing is quantized into 10 millisecond scan intervals. FIG. 18 shows that the processing logic is not sensitive to changes in the R field condition while the calculation is taking place. FIG. 20, an example of a counter operation, shows that the coil output is produced when the state specified by the B register is reached, and the C register is set to zero on the next counting cycle.

RULES FOR PPC COMMAND MEMORY PROGRAMMING Condition References

The R register of any statement may be a D, E, K, or S reference. As best seen in FIGS. 10, 15A and 15C, the R register may refer to these references as normal static true 41, static false 43, false-to-true transition 45, or true-to-false transition 47. If, for example a static false state for a D reference is selected, the R register would activate (pass power) if the D condition of the referenced line was false.

For the A, B, or C register of a logic statement, the A or B register of a suspend statement; or the A register of a bit manipulate or move in block statement, the D, E, K, or S reference, true or false, AND or OR must be specified as shown in FIG. 15C (see discussion supra).

For the A register of a counter statement, the D, E, K, or S reference, and static true or static false selection must be specified.

Data Referencing Rules

Remote data references: Any B register remote data reference may be in the line number range 0000 to 9999. Other remote data references (A or C) must be in the line number range 0000 to 0999 (see FIG. 5).

Local data references: Data references made to statement lines by arithmetic, test, count, or data move statements will obtain (or write into) the C register of the referenced line. This data is in the line number range 0000 to 9999. Writing into the C register of a logic statement will be inhibited.

Line transfers: Data written by line transfer statements always replaces the entire line (80 bits) at the referenced line location.

Data formats: Any data referred to will be interpreted according to the format of the referenced line.

Reference numbers are as summarized in Table 10.

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         User Address Summary                                                           ______________________________________                                         N0000-N0199      CMN, Active lines; N=0,1,2,----9                              N0200-N0239      CMN, Scratchpad lines                                         N0900-N0903      CMN, Stepper lines                                            N0910-N0913      CMN, Input transformer lines                                  N0920-N0923      CMN, Output transformer lines                                 ND000-ND239, ND900-ND939                                                                        CMN, "Ready" conditions                                       NK000-NK239, NK900-NK939                                                                        CMN, "Coil" conditions                                        NE000-NE063      CMN, Input coils, Group 0                                     NE064-NE127      CMN, Input coils, Group 1                                     NE128-NE191      CMN, Input coils, Group 2                                     NE192-NE255      CMN, Input coils, Group 3                                     NS000-NS099      CMN, Stepper #0 states                                        NS100-NS199      CMN, Stepper #1 states                                        NS200-NS299      CMN, Stepper #2 states                                        NS300-NS399      CMN, Stepper #2 states                                        1000-1099        I/O Unit input lines                                          1100-1199,       I/O Unit output lines                                         1200-            GTCU System status line                                       1000-1039        I/O memory #0 output lines                                    1040-1079        I/O memory #1 output lines                                    1080-1099        I/O memory #3 output lines                                    1100-1139        I/O memory #0 Input lines                                     1140-1149        I/O memory #1 input lines                                     1180-1199        I/O memory #2 input lines                                     1200             GTCU system status line                                       1300-1339        I/O memory #0 channel (0-3)                                                    and port new word status                                      1340- 1379       I/O memory #1 channel (4-7)                                                    and port new word status                                      1380-1399        I/O memory #2 channel (8-9)                                                    and port new word status                                      2000-5999        Data Memory Low                                               6000-9999        Data Memory High                                              ______________________________________                                    

Command Execution

When any line is moved by a line transfer statement into any command memory location, (line numbers 0000--0239, 0900--0939), its associated condition (D, K) bits are referenceable per Table 10. If moved into an active CM location (line numbers 0-99, non-suspended), execution of the line takes place in normal sweep sequence.

Command memory statement execution takes place when not affected by a previous "suspend" statement. If a multi-sweep statement (multiply, divide) is performing a calculation which has not completed when "suspend" occurs, its operation is suspended until the "suspend" condition no longer exists. All active CM lines (0-199, non-suspended) are processed in numerical sequence.

Programming and Loading the Command Memory

Word zero of I/O channel 0 is a control word produced by the programming panel 36 or a memory loader 37 specifying an action being requested by the panel or loader interface controller. If the selected command memory number coincides with that of the panel request, the service routine is activated. For this reason, it is necessary for the parallel processor 10 to have the ability to sense the identification thumbwheel 24 of the command memory module. Channel 0 information is also used to key a memory loading sequence in the event of power initialization (discussed infra).

Interaction With Program Loading Devices

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the command memory processor 52 is designed to recognize certain special commands at specified I/O channel 0, via an ASCII interface 21, at ports 0 and 1 (32) for interaction with the programming panel 36 and loading devices 37. As discussed more fully infra, the ASCII interface generates signals compatible with both the remote modem 30 and with external devices such as the programming panel or a teletypewriter 39 that utilize an ASCII signal format for the receipt and transfer of data. The set of instructions recognized includes: (1) stop the sweep; (2) transfer lines to and from the user memory 48; (3) change the enable, suspend, coil, and ready bits; (4) change the line contents; and (5) transfer lines to or from data memory or I/O memory (via the command memory processor). In general, such transfers occur at the maximum rate of one line per sweep (5 milliseconds). The memory loader or programming panel contains most of the "intelligence" required to implement the loading process. The set of special programming instructions described above is required in addition to the implementation of the PPC user statements, supra.

Auto-Load

Automatic loading of user program lines from data memory to command memories must be provided to give a PPC system stand-along start-up capability. Each command memory can have a switch-selectable automatic load option. When this option is selected, the power reset signal causes 200 lines to be loaded from a dedicated data memory into each command memory. Command memory 0 (see FIG. 1) loads from data memory lines 2000 through 2199; command memory 1 loads from data memory lines 2200 through 2399, etc. This technique assumes the use of a nonvolatile data memory. Each commmand memory can be individually selected for auto-load so that a system start-up involving some internally stored and some externally supplied programs may be implemented.

COMMAND MEMORY PROCESSING SCHEDULE Start of Scan

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 21, a normal scan or processing of the 200 active CM lines (0-199) starts when a sync signal 88 from a GTCU sync bus 173 (discussed infra, see FIG. 38) is detected by the bus interface or controller 60. At this time, the processor is interrupted and forced to start a new sweep; thus maintaining positive system synchronism. Processing of the first line in memory now commences.

Line Processing

Instruction and reference registers are fetched to determine the status of a line. During initial processing, the address of any external data required to be read from the N-bus 16 is placed in an appropriate register in the bus interface. (Any "write" data, generated by a previous computation, required to be externally written via the N-bus is also placed along with its address in a bus buffer 89 (see FIG. 6) prior to this time.) At a later time, the processor is signaled that the bus transfer has taken place, causing the requested read data to be available for further processing. Processing of the current line is now completed and the generated write data and address are placed in the bus interface buffer.

The processor is now ready to begin processing the next line. Note that even when no data exchange with the bus is required for a given line processing interval, synchronism with the bus is maintained by causing a "bus ready" condition 90 to be checked on every processing cycle.

Housekeeping

As best seen in FIGS. 21 and 40, after the 200th line has been processed, the CM processor 52 enters a "housekeeping" mode 91. During this period several once-per-scan operations are carried out. The status of certain words in I/O channel 0 are checked to determine if programming operations are required. It is at this time that the enable bit or the status bit of a disabled line is changed in response to a programming panel request. At this time the counter timer base references are updated, and a "watchdog timer" 92 is triggered in response to successful completion of a self-check routine.

Initialization

In case of power initialization 94, memory input and output transformers, and coils are all "cleared" to zero (95 and 96) so that predictable behavior results. (Zero line content is interpreted by the processor as a datum and no operation results). A second mode of startup is when a system has been externally reset 98 without loss of memory content. In this mode, mapping and coil areas of the memory are initialized and the sweep is started in housekeeping mode 91. System timing hardware (GTCU 14) must therefore insure the correct time relationship of the "power-up", "reset" and "sync" signals (discussed more fully infra).

Description of Hardware

FIG. 22 illustrates the configuration of the command memory processor 52.

Control ROM

The heart of the processor is a 32-bit wide control ROM 58, which stores both the micro-instructions required for each step of control operation and the constants and other data required by the program. Output bits of the control ROM are assigned to specific functions, such as transfer gating, incrementation, shifting, and control of the arithmetic element.

Scratchpad or Working Memory

A second major structure is a high-speed RAM and ROM array 54. The purpose of this scratchpad memory is to store partial results and to control information and constants used during high speed computation without requiring access to the somewhat slower line memory. Note that the address of the RAM portion 55 can be incremented in order to allow processing of word strings and that immediate addressing is available. Note also that either buffered or direct writing into the RAM is programmable.

Arithmetic Unit

An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and shift unit 57 has binary, bit and decimal manipulation hardware capability in order to meet processing speed requirements.

Word Length

Since word length varies in multiples of 16 bits, a 16-bit ALU scratchpad and internal but (not shown) is employed. Similarly, the CM line memory 46 uses a 16-bit organization.

Line Memory

The main memory 46 stores the user lines and the scratchpad/stepper/transformer data. It is also required to store partial results of multiscan arithmetic operations (×, ÷). This full storage capability is required so that store management by the user is not required.

Bus Interface

A bus interface circuit 60 containing a small bus buffer 89 permits the processor to communicate with the N-bus 16 (discussed in detail infra). The bus and main line memories are addressed in common. Decimal line address selects one of the two memories.

Components

For acceptable processing rates, it is important that the processor cycle time approach 100 nanoseconds. A synchronous internal bus organization is also desirable for simplicity of manufacture and debug, for repeatability of performance, and for simplicity of control. The control ROM 58 is buffered so that variation in ROM access time will not affect control delay. All buffers and address register/counters are of the synchronous Schottky TTL type, such as the Texas Instrument 74S163. The control ROM is preferably fabricated from Schottky buffered bipolar ROM's with less than 50 nanosecond access time. The scratchpad RAM is preferably fabricated from a 256×1 Schottky-buffered type RAM. The ALU is preferably composed of a combination of the Texas Instrument 74S181 or equivalent binary ALU's and the Signetics or equivalent 82S82 BCD Adder/Subtractor. In addition, a Schottky multiplexer array is used for bit and byte high-speed shifting and processing operations. Alternatively, a high-speed programmed logic array (PLA) may be employed in order to reduce the ALU component count. The data bus is driven by Schottky multiplexers. The line memory uses 4K dynamic MOS RAM chips.

Data Memory Function

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 23, the data memory (DM) module 18 is an optional base memory module which stores up to 4,000 lines of 80 bit words.

From 0 to 2 data memory modules can be utilized in the parallel process controller. Each card module has an address selector switch 100, which indicates the address range of data stored in the module. The data address ranges are 2,000-5,999 and 6,000-9,999. A memory protect feature (discussed infra) prevents unauthorized use of a DM by specific CM's. This feature utilizes a manually selected set of ten switches 102, (one shown) each of which authorizes a CM to write into the DM. Timing and control are provided by the N-bus 16. Lines stored in a data memory contain coil (K), ready (D), and other status bits, but these are static until the lines are transferred to a command memory module. Data memory stores both datum and statement lines. Statements will not be executed until they are transferred to a command memory active area.

Basic Architecture of Data Memory

Data is transmitted between command memories and data memories via the N-bus 16. As best seen in FIG. 40 and as discussed more fully later, a single bus timing cell 86 of 20 microseconds includes 10 time slots 87A dedicated to the ten command memories, and an eleventh time slot 87B for data memory refresh. During the first ten time slots, each command memory is allowed for one of these time slots to write a line into a data memory and read a line from data memory as required and authorized by the CM active line being executed. Thus CMO is "on" the N-bus at time slot 1, CM 1 is "on" during time slot 2, etc.

The eleventh time slot 87B is left for the refreshing operation of the data memory. Certain types of data memory elements (dynamic RAMS) require periodic refreshing in order to maintain the integrity of the data stored within them. The data memory module contains the circuitry to perform this refresh operation.

Bus Interface

As discussed more fully later and as best seen in FIG. 24, the N-bus 16 consists of the control bus 104, a write bus 105 and read bus 106. The control bus delivers appropriate timing signals to all units of the system. The write bus is used for the data flow from the command memory units to the data memory units. The read bus is used for the data flow from the data memory units to the command memory units. The data on the write bus consists of the location to be written into, the location to be read, and the data to be written. Both the write and read bus are 16 bits wide. The 80 bit data is presented in time-multiplexed format as five 16-bit bytes.

Memory Protect

As best seen in FIGS. 23 and 24, the memory protect function prevents unauthorized modification of memory contents by a command memory. Ten two-position switches 102 are provided on the module: each switch corresponds to a certain command memory module and gives it permission to write into the data memory module:

1. Unprotected--All write requests from the CM module are accepted.

2. Protected--No write requests from the CM module are honored. Should an attempt to write occur, a protection violation indicator corresponding to the CM module is lit for 100 milliseconds. A manually resettable error indicator 109 (see FIG. 47A) remains flashing after any such violation. In either case, all read requests are accepted.

Over Temperature

As best seen in FIG. 24, a temperature sensor 107 communicates the over temperature condition 108 to the N-bus but does not affect operation of the memory.

Detailed Circuit

A detailed block diagram of the data memory with Mostek 4096P or equivalent MOS dynamic RAM as the memory element is shown in FIG. 24. A timing chart corresponding to this system is shown in FIG. 25.

As the timing diagram indicates, the read and write addresses are first presented via the write bus and stored in two address buffer registers. BCD 12 line to 10 line binary mapping is performed between the two buffers (to minimize propagation delay on address presentation). Read access now starts. If the selected address range of the module includes the bank corresponding to the read address most significant digit (MSB), chips are selected and transfer to the read bus is enabled when data is loaded into a read buffer. While read access is taking place, 16-bit bytes of the write data is loaded into the read buffer 110. While read access is taking place, 16-bit bytes of the write data continue to arrive on the write bus 105. When read is complete, write address is presented to the DM memory 112. Again the selected address range of the module is checked to determine if it includes the bank corresponding to write address MSB. If so, write authorization is checked. If writing is allowed, it takes place after write data has been allowed to settle. Note that write data settling time occurs during receipt of the next read and write addresses on the write bus. For dynamic RAMS, timing circuitry detects the appropriate refresh interval during each bus timing cell. Memory protect determination is made by allowing writing only during the bus cycle time slots corresponding to the unprotected CM switch settings.

DATA MEMORY HARDWARE Semiconductor Memory

The data memory preferably utilizes as its primary element a MOS dynamic RAM, such as the Mostek 40960. The memory chips preferably have a cycle time of about 500 ns. or less to satisfy the PPC requirements.

Volatility

The semiconductor memory presents a system problem of volatility of the stored data. Therefore, battery support is necessary to cover a short power interruption (in minutes). When full system shut down is unavoidable, other types of internal or external memory is used that are of a non-volatile nature, such as core memories.

PROM Memory

For automatic loading at "hardened" installations, and to reduce cost in small systems where memory loading peripherals may not be feasible, the data memory may employ programmable read only memory (PROM) chip arrays.

I/O CHANNELS The I/O Channel Concept

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 26, all input and output communication with the command memories takes place through directly-addressable data memory locations that have been permanently assigned to the input/output function. Thus, all input and output communications are directly available to all command memories. Command memory programs do not require any special instructions to perform I/O functions. The purpose of this section is to describe the means by which data is moved between this special region of data memory, hereafter referred to as I/O memory, and the remote terminal areas to and from which the data must actually flow. Within the parallel process controller this mechanism is referred to as an I/O channel. The PPC may have from a minimum of two to a maximum of 10 I/O channels.

Each I/O channel is permanently assigned to service 30 lines of I/O memory: 10 lines of input, 10 lines of output, and 10 lines of status data. FIG. 26 shows in simplified block form the internal or parallel process controller end of a typical I/O channel, channel 1 (27), with its associated I/O memory module 22. The associated memory locations are addressed, written into, and read from directly via the N-bus 16. Note that for memory line locations 1010 through 1019, the N-bus may read or write, and the channel modem may read only. For line locations 1110 through 1119, the N-bus may read only and the modem may write only. Line locations 1310 through 1319 contain status information pertaining to each input/output line pair of the channel. These locations may only be read by the N-bus and only written by the channel control logic. This is the pattern for addressing I/O memory for each of the I/O channels.

Address and control logic for this memory region is time-shared between the N-bus and a channel modem timing and control logic 114. Time sharing is based upon clock signals derived from the bus timing which interlaces access to the I/O memory between the N-bus and the I/O channel. Time shared access to a common memory is the only timing relationship that exists between the I/O channels and the internal PPC activity. In all other aspects, an I/O channel functions completely asynchronously to and independently of the PPC command memories and their programs.

An I/O channel consists of a local modem 31 within the main assembly enclosure 116 (see FIG. 2) of the parallel process controller, communicating over a full-duplex transmission medium 118 with a remote modem 30 (see FIG. 1) located up to several thousand feet away. The local modem acts as the master and the remote as the slave. By time-multiplexing, the two modems sequentially send and receive the data for all 20 lines of I/O to which the channel is assigned, completely refreshing the data images at both ends of the channel at least once every 10 milliseconds. Each I/O channel is thus an independent data processor which continuously moves data, without error, between two locations which may be widely separated. Each channel also maintains an error-free image of all the data at opposite ends of the channel. Under typical noise conditions, data is never more than 10 milliseconds obsolete.

Error-free transmission is a stand-alone capability of the channel. No internal error-checking is required of the command memories. This is accomplished by echoing all data transmissions and performing comparisons. When comparisons do not produce valid results, transmissions are repeated as required until valid results occur.

Thus the effect of a noise condition severe enough to produce transmission errors is to cause the rate of data refreshing across the affected channel to slow down, and in extreme cases even to halt. The noise however will not cause the channel to reproduce erroneous data at the modem interface. The modem hardware includes transceivers (local modem), a pair of full-duplex transmission cables 118, error-checking logic within the timing and control logic 114, a transmit buffer 119, a receive buffer 120, and an address and RAM control 121 common to all lines of data using that channel. Thus, if the modem is detecting errors, it does so independently of the line of data being sent. It makes no difference in the rate of total data sent whether the channel continues to try to send the same data until it succeeds or makes a finite number of tries before going on to the next line in the sequence. Thus I/O channels use the approach of sending the same data until successful. In an extreme case, such as a shorted or open cable, the channel hangs indefinitely on the last data line being sent.

System Configuration

FIG. 27 illustrates the hardware units involved in the I/O system. An I/O memory such as I/O memory #0 (22 see also FIG. 1) contains a forty line output memory 122, a forty line input memory 124, and a forty line status memory 126. It thus has the capacity to service four local modems 31, each performing the serial data transmission/reception for one I/O channel. A minimum I/O memory module 22 is supplied with two local modems (channels 0 and 1) and may be optionally expanded to four (channels 2 and 3). The cable interfacing and driving function is performed by a filter unit 128. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 29, filter unit number 0 (128A) processes I/O channels 0-3 while filter unit number 1 (128B) processes I/O channels 4-9. A filter unit has six sections 130 comprising pulse-width modulator/demodulator and isolated cable driver/receiver pairs plus cable termination and circuit protection equipment.

The I/O memory module addresses are specified by a 3-position selector 132. Module zero 22 services I/O channels φ-3, module one or A 23 services I/O channels 4-7, and module two or B 25 services I/O channels 8-9. FIG. 28 shows a fully implemented I/O system 20. Several other configurations are possible. For systems of any given size, the user has flexibility in making these assignments. For physical reasons, the filter units are located at either edge of the main assembly enclosure 116 (see FIG. 2).

System addresses for each I/O line are given in FIG. 29 with respect to I/O memories and channels.

Format and Bandwidth Considerations

The "black box" representation of the I/O channel appears as a time-shared (or multiplexed) length of bidirectional, 100-conductor ribbon cable that continuously scans all inputs and outputs and refreshes the imaged data at least once every 10 milliseconds. Data is presented to and received from the channel modems as a fully transparent, 80-bit wide, parallel word exactly as it appears in I/O memory. Where I/O data corresponds to a command memory program, it consists of five 16-bit registers of BCD code as described earlier with respect to the command memory module, and requires that all 80 bits be utilized. During normal system operation, the I/O field contains only 64 bits of actual data, corresponding to the R, A, B, & C register fields, although the I (instruction) field frequently contains essential status bits identifying the nature of the data. Hence, the I/O transfer over a channel always contains 80 bits, a number of which may be hard-wired at the I/O device to a constant value. It is never the concern of the I/O channel to know or care about the nature of data being sent or received, but only to faithfully reproduce it at the proper location within the allotted time.

There is a single exception to this rule: The I/O channel always signals the remote terminal devices, and sometimes the parallel processor controller, whenever a line of data is being sent for the first time. Because the I/O channels continuously reproduce images of data at opposite ends of the channel, there is no inherent way for the receiving device, either the PPC or a remote device, to distinguish between consecutive words of identical data. This "new word" information is generated for output data at the I/O memory by automatically setting a status "new word" bit to the "one" state whenever a command memory writes into that I/O memory location. This same bit is automatically cleared to zero whenever the I/O channel takes a word from the memory location for transmission. The "new word" bit is transmitted along with the data and is available as an output pulse at the remote modem.

For input data, a similar procedure must be implemented in the logic and memory of any peripheral device tied to a remote modem wherever it is necessary to signal "new word" status to the PPC, as for example from a keyboard or tape-reader input. "New input word" status is stored in I/O memory locations 1300 through 1399, along with other channel status information according to the channel and line number of the data source.

The parallel data format for 10 lines each of output and input data are time-multiplexed through the I/O channel under the control of logic associated with the local modem. The local modem acts as the master and the remote modem as the slave. Data flow through a channel represents a continuous and sequential scan of all 10 lines of input and output independent of the activity level of any line, or whether or not particular lines are even in use. I/O channels are designed to accomplish a complete data refresh in 8 milliseconds (under noise-free conditions) independent of the channel loading. Thus, a PPC user need not be concerned with I/O timing relationships as a function of the quantity of devices connected to a remote channel. The design philosophy of the I/O is therefore in keeping with the PPC requirement that system performance be invariant from a minimum to a maximum system implementation.

The requirement for updating the entire I/O memory once every 8 milliseconds with complete error-checking of all transmission imposes specific bandwidth requirements on the I/O channel. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 26, these channels operate over a full-duplex transmission medium in bit-serial mode. The transmission medium is a pair of CATV-type, shielded, twisted-pair, twin axial cables 118 operating in opposite directions between the local 31 and remote 30 modems. With full-duplex capability, data transmission and echo reception occur nearly simultaneously; thus, the time required to send and error check one line of data, assuming no errors are detected, is the time required to complete all necessary transmissions of data.

To the 80-bit PPC line of data must be added a 16 bit header plus framing markers. The header contains data for demultiplexing to the proper output or input line, for control of mode at the remote modem, and for "new word" status. The framing markers synchronize and separate transmission bursts. Thus, a burst length of 128 bits for "output" mode (H0, H1) and 216 bits for "input" mode (H2, H3) yields 344 bits for one input/output line pair transmission not including four round trip transmission delays required for burst synchronization and error checking. Each channel must refresh 10 lines of output and 10 lines of input data at least every 8 milliseconds. The round trip delay is about 12 microseconds at 300 feet.; thus frequency equals ##EQU1## Solving for frequency yields 0.467×106 bits per second or approximately 0.5 Mhz. By using pulse width modulation, coding for the transmission channel requires a clock rate of 0.5 Mhz and a bandwidth of DC to greater than 1 Mhz. Table 11 and FIG. 30 summarize the above encoding and bandwidth considerations.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         CHANNEL DATA RATES & MINIMUM BANDWIDTH                                         ______________________________________                                         H0/ word= 80 Bits plus 16 Control and 8 Framing Bits=104 Bits                  H1 word=16 Control and 8 Framing Bits=24 Bits                                  H2 word=80 Bits plus 16 Control and 8 Framing Bits=104 Bits                    H3 word=80 Bits plus 16 Control and 16 Framing Bits=108 Bits                   Channel sends 10 words and receives 10 words per 8 (10).sup.-3 second           scan cycle.                                                                   Each word required one complete round trip to verify                            good transmission.                                                            Assume "Echo" has 12 μsec delay requiring (12 μsec × X bit         rate)                                                                           extra bits per burst.                                                         ≦ 1/10 × 8(10).sup.-3 seconds                                      ##STR14##                                                                     Assuming negligible delay, bit rate is 0.43 × 10.sup.6 bits/sec.         Allowing for echo delay and a finite error rate, assume a                       maximum bit rate of 5(10).sup.6 per second.                                   For PWM Encoding where                                                         "0"=0.66 microsecond or <1.0 microsecond                                       "1"=1.32 microsecondor >1.0;<2.0 microsecond                                   Frame Marker=4.0 microsecond                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Channel Specifications

The following is a list of requirements that the I/O channel preferably attains:

1. The channel operates in image mode. Specifically, it continuously scans ten data output locations in I/O memory and transmits the data contents to the remote modem where it is stored in corresponding memory locations of whatever peripheral device is connected to the remote modem. Time-sequentially it performs the same function in the opposite direction between the remote modem and 10 data input locations in I/O memory. It thus maintains at the remote location an up-to-date image of data output, and in the I/O memory a current record of the status of data originating at the remote terminal. Data transmission over the channel is fully transparent to all 80 bits of the PPC line of data, although a typical peripheral device will utilize only 1 to 64 bits of the available data space.

2. Each I/O channel continuously refreshes all 20 lines of I/O to which it is assigned, completely independent of the activity level or data content of the lines. The channel does not determine whether any or all lines of I/O data are in use by the remote terminal, but continuously images all of them. Thus, the performance of a channel is independent of the frequency at which it is loaded. Refresh time for an average noise environment is less than 10 milliseconds.

3. The channel functions completely independently of the command memories and command memory programs. It performs the functions of multi-plexing parallel data into the modems, serializing and encoding the data, full-duplex transmission and reception, decoding, bit-serial error-checking, serial to parallel conversion, and demultiplexing the data out of the modems.

4. The channel operates error-free in a hostile industrial environment. This means that the error probability is so low as to be acceptable to any industrial process control situation. Error-free operation is accomplished in part by echoing all transmissions and performing a bit-serial comparison of the echo return with the original data. One echo comparison by the local modem is required to confirm a good transmission of output data, and two consecutive identical data patterns are required for a good reception of input data. At the remote modem, an output data pattern with a proper bit pattern in the "header," or control block plus a proper "data valid" header are required before data is accepted for transfer to the modem output. At both the local and remote modem, data is assumed to be correct as received for transmission over the channel. A second identical transmission of input data is required by the local modem before input data is transferred to the input memory.

5. As best seen in FIG. 26, the I/O channels transmit and receive in full-duplex mode over a pair of shielded, twisted-pair, wide-bandwidth, CATV type of transmission cables 118 such as Belden type 8227 twinax, or equivalent. Cable length may be up to three thousand feet. The type of cable used is easily installed by plant electricians and requires no special connectors, tooling, or wiring techniques unfamiliar to electrician-level skills.

6. The channel modems operate in a master/slave relationship, the PPC end being the master and the remote modem the slave. All multiplexing and input/output sequencing of data flow is controlled by logic within the local modem. The corresponding mode of operation for the remote modem is controlled by decoding a 16 bit "header" block sent from the local modem at the beginning of transmission of every data burst.

7. The remote modem design is considered a basic part of the I/O channel hardware and provides a general-purpose interface to allow maximum versatility in connecting peripheral devices. The remote modem may be packaged as an integral part of the peripheral hardware such that direct connection of signals at standard logic levels and impedances will provide noise-free operation. Modem interface connections provide 80-bit input and output data busses, multiplexing and demultiplexing addresses and four bits comprising an "output data valid" pulse, an "input data request," "new word" flag output, and a "new word" flag input line. The modem provides storage for one full line of input and output data; specifically, that line currently being sent from and/or the line last received at the remote modem. The peripheral control logic provides all data and flag storage as required and performs the multiplexing and de-multiplexing functions. Data output from the modem is valid at the time of "output data valid" as is the corresponding output address bits. Data on the input bus must be loaded into the input buffer during the time of the 40 microsecond input data request signal and at least to its trailing edge using the data input line number lines prior to selecting the input data. The data input line number is valid at least 10 microseconds prior to the leading edge of this request pulse.

The "new word" output signal from the modem signals the first time that a new line of data is transmitted from I/O memory. It is made available for use by those types of terminal devices that must distinguish between consecutive data output events, such as printers or data storage devices. The signal is asserted for the duration of time that the word is first presented to the modem output. A "new word" input line is made available for use by data input terminals such as keyboards and data memory devices where it is necessary to distinguish between consecutive, and frequently identical, data events. When asserted along with input data, it causes the "new word" status bit for that line and channel, available to command memories in I/O memory address space 1300 through 1399, to be asserted for one full scan of the command memories.

Operating Modes & Timing

Each of the I/O channels has five states of operation corresponding to data output, data output verify, data input, data input verity, and memory exchange. FIG. 31 and Table 12 depict these states in terms of the signals present on the transmission lines as a function of time. The local modem controls the sequence of operations, selects the address of data lines to be transmitted, and alternately switches the channel between send and receive modes of operation.

Each mode of operation is initiated at the local modem by sending a "word sync" (or framing gap) code followed by a "header" block of 16 bits which is then decoded by the remote modem as shown in Table 13 (the most significant bit is transmitted first).

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         I/O Channel Timing                                                             ______________________________________                                         TS0/: LM sends header type 0/ with output new word bit                               and data header (output mode). RM echoes all data,                             saves data and output line #, clears data out good.                      TS1:  LM sends header type 1; RM decodes header (verify                              Mode), stores input line # and sets data out good,                             and request new data in LM checks echoes.                                TS2:  LM sends header type 2 with data RM decodes header,                            clears request new data in, inserts input new word                             code into header echo, samples inputs data buffer and                          sends input data. LM stores new word bit and data.                       TS3:  LM sends header type 3 with data RM decode header,                             re-inserts new word code, re-samples input data                                buffer and sends input data. LM compares data and                              new word code with that received during TS2.                             TS4:  LM writes input data into Input Section of I/O memory,                         status and input new word bits into status section                             of I/O Memory and advances input line #.                                       LM advances output line # and reads new output data                            from output section of line memory                                       ______________________________________                                          LM = Local Modem                                                               RM = Remote Modem                                                        

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Bits        Interpretation                                                     ______________________________________                                         15-14       Sync Code (10/)                                                    13-12       Header Code (0/0/-11)                                              11-8        Line Number (0/0/0/0/-10/0/1)                                      7-6         Header Check Code                                                              (Ones complement of header code)                                   5-2         Line Number Clock Code                                                         (Ones complement of line number)                                   1           New Word Bit                                                       0           New Word Check Bit                                                             (Complementof new word bit)                                        ______________________________________                                    

Assuming a data output mode (Hφ) is initiated, the local modem assembles and sends a "header type" (HO) as best seen in FIG. 32. This "header type" simply defines that bits 13 and 12 are both zero followed by line address, check codes, and "new word" code, and follows the header with the 80-bit data word output. In response, the remote modem echos the data, and at the same time assembles the first 16 bits received into a shift register, decodes the header, and assembles the incoming data word into an 80-bit shift register. Meanwhile, with the delay due to the remote modem plus transmission line and local modem modulation and demodulation, the original header and data arrive back at the local modem where the entire transmission is error checked (in 16 bit bytes) against the original header and data.

Any detected error in either header or data causes the local modem to repeat the cycle. If no error is detected, the local modem enters the output verify state, changes the header to Type 1 (H1), adds input line number data (to be used later in state 2) and sends the new header. At the remote modem, the entire transmission is echoed back. The incoming header is decoded and, if no error is detected, the "data valid" signal is asserted at the remote modem output along with input and output line addresses and "new word" status as obtained from the header block. The data request line is also asserted, informing user equipment to load input data in preparation for the following input cycle.

The Type 1 header echo arrives back at the local modem and is error checked as before. If no error is detected, the modem assumes a successful transmission and advances to the next state. Detection of any error causes the modem control to return to the beginning phase and repeat the second output cycle (H1).

A data input cycle follows the output verify cycle. It is initiated at the local modem by assembling and transmitting a Header Type 2 (H2); followed by input line address (previously sent during state 1) with the new word bit set to zero (in data input mode, "new word" is originated at the remote modem). The local modem also transmits the 80 bit contents of its input buffer as arbitrary data. The remote modem decodes the header, samples the previously loaded line of data and transfers "new word" status from the input buffer into its transmit buffer while echoing back the first 14 bits of the header. It now transmits the input "new word" status code, and follows the header echo with 80 bits of data from its transmit buffer instead of echoing the incoming data.

At the local modem, the new word bit and following data are saved. The remote modem also negates the input request line so that no new data will be loaded into the input buffer. The local modem enters data input verify state, changes the header to Type 3 (H3) and sends it out followed again by the 80 bit contents of its input buffer. The remote modem detects the Type 3 header (H3), reloads the data input register, echos the header, inserts the sampled "new word" status bit code, and transmits the data buffer as before. The second echo of the header is checked for errors, and all following data is compared with the data saved from the previous transmission. If no errors are detected, the input data is transferred to the modem output buffer along with line address and "new word" status for demultiplexing to I/O memory; and the modem advances to the transfer state. During this state framing signals are transmitted. The I/O memory polls the local modems continuously, and performs the transfer during the N-bus "refresh time" 87B (FIG. 40) when a modem is in the transfer state, thus requesting service. One such transfer can be accomplished per N-bus line cycle (20 microseconds). "Framing" gaps, i.e. absence of clock transitions between data bursts are transmitted by modulators to maintain synchronism of demodulators with transmitted information. Header formats are summarized and detailed in FIG. 32.

Modem Operation

FIG. 33 shows a more detailed block diagram of the operation of the local 31 and remote 30 modems and demonstrates the implementation of operations described above. All channel activity is directed by the timing and control logic 114 (see also FIG. 26) of the local modem. The random-access nature of the I/O memory means that any I/O location is subject to access by the N-bus 16 in any of the ten 1.82 microsecond bus cycles. An I/O memory access may thus prevent access by a local modem.

However, since the channel refresh rate only requires a local modem to access I/O memory approximately once every 200 milliseconds and alternates between data output and data input, ample time is available for the local modem to access I/O memory during the data memory refresh time slot occurring once every 20 microseconds (see FIG. 40). This is accomplished by loading the transmit buffer 119 (see FIG. 26) of the local modem with the next line of data output during a data input channel cycle. Transfer of a new line of data input to I/O memory is accomplished during the first memory refresh cycle on the N-bus after the I/O channel enters a data output mode of operation (State 4). Assuming that the accessing I/O memory and data multiplexing are functioning as required at the local modem, the remaining hardware shown in FIG. 33 functions as follows:

The timing and control logic 114 initiates a data output cycle for line #n by assembling with header generator 135 the appropriate header block into a control output register 136 of the transmit buffer 119. This is a 16-bit shift register with parallel access input and output. Fourteen (14) bits of the header are derived directly from counters within the timing and control logic. The 14th and 15th bits form the "new word" status code which is brought in simultaneously with the data word. A word sync (or frame marker) is generated by a pulse width modulation modulator 138 by sending at least two pulse intervals of longer duration than the nominal clock interval of 2.0 microseconds. This is accomplished by blocking one or more clock pulses to the modulator. During word sync, the control header is loaded into a transmitter output shift register 140. The 80 bits of data are loaded in five 16 bit bytes each time the output register empties. Thus, immediately following word sync, the control header, followed by the data output, are serially shifted through the modulator and transmitted in pulse width modulated (PWM) code to the remote modem 30.

After channel and modem delay time, which is approximately 2 to 12 microseconds depending upon the length of transmission cable, the echo begins arriving back at the local modem 31 where it is demodulated by a pulse width demodulator 142 for both header block and data. The timing and control logic 114 detects word sync and causes a comparator 144 to error-check the return by first comparing the header with the contents in an input buffer 145. Shift pulses are derived from the demodulator-generated clock 146.

When in the data output mode, the echo data is not saved at the local modem 31. At the end of the echo return, if no error is detected, the local modem advances to "output verify" mode. When in this mode, the H1 header is sent by the local modem and echoed by the remote modem and another complete error check of the header is performed. If a valid header is received and decoded by the remote modem via a header decoding and control module 161 (see FIG. 33), the output valid line 151 is asserted and output line number is presented so that external demultiplexing circuitry can sample output data and output new word bits.

The remote modem also presents the input line number and asserts the input request line in preparation for the data input mode. If the local modem detects a valid echo, it advances to the data input mode.

While in the data input mode, the local modem sends the H2 header which is echoed by the remote modem. The remote modem, after checking and verifying the first 14 bits of the header loads into its input shift register 148 from an input buffer 149 and negates the input request line. The remote modem thus echoes the first 14 header bits and follows them with the input new word code. External equipment selects input data using the input line number information, and loads it into the input buffer during the time that the input request line is asserted. (Timing is such that the leading edge of the input request signal can be used directly to strobe the data.)

The local modem now transmits the contents of its input working buffer 150. This data is not echoed by the remote modem but the contents of its input shift register are transmitted. The data is received by the local modem and stored in the input working buffer without checking. (Input new word bits are also stored.) When the echo reception is complete, the local modem advances to the "input verify" mode.

In the "input verify" mode, the local modem sends the H3 header followed by the contents of its input working buffer 150. The remote modem once again echoes and checks the first 14 bits of the header and, if valid, samples the input buffer, inserts the input new word code, and re-transmits the 80 bits of input data. It should be noted that the input buffer must not be loaded when the input request is negated. The local modem checks the received header against the generated 14 bits and stored new word code. Next, the received data is compared by comparator 144 (in 16 bit bytes) with the contents of the input working buffer. If any byte does not compare, the incoming data is stored in the input working buffer in place of the original data and the input verify cycle is repeated. When the "input verify" cycle has been successfully completed, the local modem advances to the data transfer mode.

In data transfer mode, framing markers are transmitted by the local modem while it awaits service by the I/O memory. Since a queue of four modems can form and since one local modem can be serviced each 20 microseconds, the worst case service time is 80 microseconds. Each local modem is serviced ten times per I/O system sweep. During the 2 microsecond service time input data plus status are sent to the I/O memory and new output data is obtained from the I/O memory. If the N-bus has caused the corresponding output line to have been written since the previous transfer, the output new word bit is set. This bit is cleared when the transfer takes place. As best seen in FIG. 34, the status information transferred to the status memory includes most of the bits of the input header inserted into this data and the carrier loss and channel error bits. The channel error bit is asserted whenever an error is detected by the local modem. A "one-shot" multivibrator asserts the bit for a minimum of ten milliseconds so that it can be reliably sampled by any command memory. The carrier loss bit is asserted whenever the PWM receiver clock 146 is absent.

The remote modem inverts and echoes all input data between detection of any leader error and the local modem does not interpret a noise burst error affecting both transmit and receive channels as a valid transmission. Header bit codes are time separated as well as code-separated to further reduce the possibility of burst error malfunction.

Remote Modem Application

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 26, 33 and 35, the remote modem 30 is a fundamental component of the parallel process controller 10 and is, in its basic form, a system building block for design engineers rather than industrial of plant engineers. It performs the function of converting transistor-transistor logic (TTL-level) data to and from the I/O channel transmission medium and performs logical housekeeping at the remote terminal location. Each peripheral device interfaced to a PPC system must have a logic interface designed specifically for it. As do general purpose computers, the PPC provides a general purpose I/O bus to which a wide variety of peripheral devices may be interfaced. One such peripheral device is the interfacing of a programmable controller 152, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639 and the Models 084, 184 and 284 of the Modicon Corporation, Andover, Massachusetts. In this configuration the parallel process controller 10 can provide supervisory control to one or more programmable controllers which in turn directly control a desired process. The parallel process controller-programmable controller combination forms a hierarchical system for the parallel control of extremely complex processes.

Alternatively, the programmable controllers can function as input/output data processors which multiplex data into a usable format for the programmable controller input/output interface modules 154 and local and remote modems 155 and 156. In this configuration, the I/O channel's data of the parallel process controller is converted into programmable controller bus format, thus giving access to all input/output equipment of the programmable controller and ultimately providing system capability for satellite processing, monitoring, and remote programming.

In addition, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 35, a general-purpose ASCII interface 21 for direct connection to teletypewriters, telephone couplers, and similar data communication devices is provided. This device provides access for the programming panel 36 and memory loader units 27 when connected to channel zero 26. The ASCII interface unit provides eight ports 32 of ASCII data interchange, one common control port 33, and one general purpose 64 bit TTL input/output discrete port 35.

As best seen in FIG. 33, the remote modem contains signal-conditioning and isolation hardware 158 for the termination of a pair of full-duplex transmission cables 118 for one I/O channel. Between the two ends of the remote modem there is an RF-noise shield 160. Contained within the remote modem are LC noise filters, photo isolators, and a DC-to-DC converter (not shown) to completely isolate the transmission cable from the modem logic.

GENERAL TIMING AND CONTROL UNIT (GTCU) General

The general timing and control unit (GTCU) 14 is the heart of the parallel process controller N-bus 16 system. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 36, it performs three basic functions. First, it senses system DC voltages and controls current supplied by the power modules, as well as power supply and system startup and shutdown sequences. Secondly, it generates N-bus control signals which synchronize all N-bus data flow, maintain lock-step synchronism of the command memories, and inform all N-bus units of system power status. Thirdly, it responds to CM read commands as part of data memory address space (line 1200) so that explicit power system status can be sensed by command memory statements. The GTCU comprises three main modules, an N-bus timing and control module 161, a power regulation and control module 165, and a system status line 1200 memory 169. In addition, a status display 192 indicates the current condition of the power system status.

THEORY OF OPERATION Power Regulation and Control Section

FIG. 37 shows the relationship of the GTCU 14 to other system hardware. An AC line monitor signal 162 and user remote reset request signal 163 originate from a line inlet filter unit 164, which also distributes AC power to fans and power modules. Each DC power module 166 has detection circuitry capable of driving the power module monitor "party line" bus 167 and provides (via a diode) pilot power via line 168 capable of operating system startup circuitry.

The GTCU 14 produces an oscillating power sync/enable bus signal via line 168 to all power modules to synchronize and control power delivery. In addition, power demand buses for each voltage are driven by the GTCU to regulate the DC voltages.

N-Bus Control Section

As best seen in FIG. 38, various signals are generated by the N-bus timing and control module 161 for N-bus 16 control. These are as follows:

(1) A master reset bus 170 is a fail-safe, high level (±12V) discrete signal which asynchronously initializes and protects all devices on initial power-up or final power-down cycling.

(2) A power "OK" bus 171 is a logical startup and shutdown signal to all units to permit initialization and finalization of all units in a synchronous manner. This signal changes state only at the start of a line cycle and only when DC voltages are adequate for reliable operation.

(3) A clock bus 172 is the master timing strobe. All modules which sample and drive the data buses do so in reference to the trailing edge of this pulse.

(4) A sync bus 173 identifies the two time phases (out of every seven clock periods) during which N-bus units may sample time slot and line number information from the read bus 106 of N-bus 16. This signal synchronizes data exchange on the bus.

(5) An N-bus status word 175 occurs during the first of the two sync bus time phases. At this time, the GTCU 14 places a time slot identification code, plus other bus status information on the read bus 106. Bits 0-3 comprise the time slot code 176, identifying which of the ten command memories are authorized to exchange data with the bus during the succeeding bus cycle period. Code 1010 signifies refresh time to all data memories. Bit 4 is an "Index" 178, occurring only one line cycle out of each full system sweep (10 milliseconds). Bits 5-7 180 are bus status, allowing command memories to directly sense line fail, power fail and reset request information. These changes are only at "index" time. Bit 8 is an "odd cycle" bit 182, a time slot code extension bit allowing expansion to 20 command memories, or alternatively, 5 millisecond sweeps. This bit allows up to ten command memories to use the bus on every second bus cycle only.

(6) A line number word 184 is placed on the read bus during the second of the two sync bus 173 time phases. This is a four decimal digit number identifying the current line cycle being executed by the command memories. This number changes during the refresh time slot on each odd bus cycle and is at its final value when "index" 178 is asserted (see above). It is set to zero on the line cycle immediately following index.

The counting chain which generates the above signals is shown in FIG. 38. An oscillator 186 generates a clock frequency of 3.85 MHZ and seven time phases (TO-T6) during which a specific command memory drives the bus (described infra). The sync bus 173 is driven during time phase T4 and T5. During T4, the time slot code is placed on the read bus, and during T5, the line number code. A time state counter 188 generates the time state code 176 (0 to 10), a divide by two module 189 generates the odd cycle bit 182 (0 to 1), and a line counter 190 generates the line number 194 (0 to 249). The line counter also produces the "index" 178 once every 10 milliseconds. At the "index" period, time slot 10, odd cycle, and power status information is sampled into the status buffer.

System Status Memory Section

The system status memory section 169 is implemented similar to a data memory. The read address information is read from the write bus 105 at time phase T0 and, if address 1200 is selected, the I 38, R 40, A, B, and C 42 fields of the status word are gated onto the read bus 106 at time phases T6, T0, T1, T2, and T3 respectively (described more fully infra, in the N-bus description) respectively. FIG. 39 illustrates specific coding utilized.

Sequencing Functions

As best seen in FIGS. 36 and 38, the power regulation and control module 165 of GTCU 14 generates a power up sequence and a power down sequence via a shut-down timing chain 193 in response to line failure or to an auxiliary shutoff switch 195. Normally, when AC power fails, the power modules automatically revert to battery operation. The GTCU generates a power fail warning on status display 192 after a 10 second delay. Thus programmed action may be initiated on AC line failure and/or power fail warning. At one second following power fail warning, a power fail signal 197 is asserted, causing all units to synchronously shut down. One millisecond later, supplies are actually disabled, removing all load from the power modules. To avoid battery drain, the on/off switch initiates the shutdown cycle from the one second power fail warning point. When error signals exceed certain limits, the power fail signal 197 and master reset bus 170 are asserted, forcing all circuitry to remain in reset/protect status.

A reset request signal 198 is a user-generated control signal operated by an auxiliary switch 199. Its purpose is to instruct the command memories to clear all simulated "relays" or coils 66. It does not cause loss of memory images, data processing or programming functions and is intended only as a user "master reset" function for certain applications.

Status Display Panel

The GTCU panel 192 indicates the following conditions:

1. Bus over temperature,

2. GTCU over temperature condition,

3. power fail signal status,

4. power fail warning signal status,

5. line fail signal status, and

6. power module fail signal status.

N-BUS General

The N-bus is the sole data path between command memory processing modules and data memory and I/O devices within the parallel process controller. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the N-bus 16 interconnects the ten command memories 12, two data memories 18, the three I/O memories 22, 23, and 25, and the GTCU 14. The command memories are time-multiplexed so that at any one time only one command memory has access to the N-bus 16. The I/O memories and data memories are always prepared to service the particular command memory which has control of the N-bus at any instant in time. Ten time intervals are sequentially assigned to each command memory, regardless of the command memory's use or presence, while an eleventh time interval is provided during every multiplexing cycle to allow those data memories having dynamic refresh requirements (such as dynamic MOS memories) to perform refresh operations.

Command Memory

As best seen in FIG. 6, the command memory 12 is interfaced to the N-bus 16 by means of a bus controller 60 incorporating a bus buffer 89. The bus controller senses the command memory number from the associated thumbwheel switch 24.

Utilizing this number and timing signals supplied on the N-bus by the GTCU 14, the bus controller 60 determines the correct time for the specific command memory to drive the N-bus 16.

Data Memory

As best seen in FIG. 23, the data memory connects to the N-bus 16. The data memory is a slave to the selected command memory. As explained earlier, the N-bus 16 consists of two data pathways, the write bus 105 and the read bus 106. The command memory sends both read and write addresses and write data on the write bus. The read address is compared with the data memory thumbwheel switch setting 100. If the specific data memory has been selected for reading, read information is placed on the read bus 106 during specified time subintervals. At a later time, the write address is compared with the thumbwheel 100. If the data memory is selected for writing, data accumulated in the write buffer is written into the memory.

GTCU

As described earlier, and as best seen in FIGS. 36 and 38, the general timing and control unit 14 generates a clock bus signal 172, a sync bus signal 173, and initializing signals 170 and 171 on the control bus 104. It distributes time slot, power status, and line number data to command and data memories via the read bus 106. It also serves as a one line data memory for system status sensing.

Description

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 37 and 40, the N-bus 16 is made up of three 16-bit impedance-controlled party-lines, simplex data pathways 104, 105 and 106 terminated at both ends with bus terminators 200. The maximum length of these pathways is ten feet. Synchronizing of units and power-up cycle control is accomplished using signals generated by the special clock circuitry within the N-bus timing and control section 161 of the general timing and control unit 14 (see FIGS. 36 and 38). The N-bus consists of two impedance-controlled flat cables, each having twenty-five signal conductors and twenty-five signal return lines. It has connectors 202 positioned at each module station, up to a maximum of sixteen stations, for a maximum of ten command memory modules, two data memory modules, three I/O memory modules, and one GTCU module, and carries two end-termination assemblies 200. The N-bus length is preferably the same regardless of the size of the parallel process controller.

Theory of Operation

FIG. 40 illustrates the signals and timing associated with the N-bus 16. As best seen in FIGS. 38 and 40, the timing unit time slot 176 and line number codes 194 generate an "index" 178 occurring every 10 milliseconds, a sync pulse 173 every 1.82 microseconds, and a clock pulse 172 occurring every 260 nanoseconds.

Timing

As best seen in FIG. 38, a basic timing cell for one command memory access contains seven clock cycles 172. As explained earlier, a complete bus cycle multiplex interval consists of eleven such 20 microsecond bus timing cells 86, one being assigned to each command memory and the eleventh for data memory refresh. Each command memory is synchronized to the bus cycle by comparing the time slot code from the GTCU 14 with its thumbwheel value during sync time. Thus a command memory operates within one of the available multiplex time cells. Within a given 40 microsecond interval, therefore, every command memory is allowed one bus read and one bus write access, and is required to process one user line. Since all the command memories operate with respect to the "index" 178 and sync 173 pulses, lines are processed in lock-step. Thus, if data generated by the solution of Line 1 in any command memory is deposited into a cell in a data memory, a reference to that cell by any Line 3 (or subsequent) statement in any other command memory retrieves this most recently calculated value of the data. Data can thus be parallel-processed by several command memories within a single scan cycle.

A system sweep consists of 500 bus cycles. The line number code 194 increments every second bus cycle. An odd/even bit 182 is toggled every bus cycle and is presented to command memories along with time slot information. The command memories of the present PPC operate only during the ten odd bus cycles, leaving the 10 even cycles of every line time free for expansion. Note that such expansion may either be in the form of more command memories (up to 20) or faster sweep times (5 milliseconds).

The ten millisecond interval between "index" 178 signals is divided into an active period and a housekeeping period 91. During the active period the user lines are solved in each command memory. During the housekeeping interval, each command memory processor 52 (see FIG. 6) is free to perform certain once-per-scan functions, including communication with the programming panel 36 and loading devices 37. (see FIG. 1). Thus, of 250 command memory bus cycles available, 200 are used for lock-step synchronized access to data required for solution of user statements and the remaining 50 are available for the general use of the command memory. Data memories are also synchronized to the bus in order to determine the correct refresh cycle time. Each provides local counting circuitry using clock and sync signals.

Command Memory Interface

Details of the command memory bus interface are best seen in FIGS. 41A and 41B. A 16×16 bit RAM buffer 204 is used to store all of the required exchange information in 16-bit registers (13 words are required--see RAM location insert in FIG. 41A). This RAM is two-port and can be accessed by the command memory processor 52 when not involved in bus exchange activity. The timing of the loading and unloading of the RAM is best seen in FIG. 41B. A status register 205 allows the CM to determine the status of the bus interface; i.e. power status, index, etc.

Data Memory Interface

The data memory bus interface logic and timing is best seen in FIGS. 42A and 42B respectively. Since both the read and write addresses arrive on the write bus initially, the write address is held in a buffer 207 until required. Not shown in the figure is a decimal-to-binary mapping circuit which is utilized to address the RAM chips 208.

Circuit Considerations

Circuit and timing detail of the N-bus circuitry is best seen in FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 44. Each data pathway is carried on a controlled-impedance bus terminated at both ends as shown. In order to operate properly, high fan-out, high-speed drivers and high-impedance, high-speed receive circuitry is required.

Drive/Receive Circuits

Driver circuits 210, such as the American Micro Devices 26S12, capable of sinking terminator current are utilized. High impedance receivers 211, such as American Micro Devices 26S12 or the National DM8837 (Hex "uni-bus" receiver), which have built-in hysteresis and fast response are used for bus receiving.

Cable

Each control signal preferably carries a separate ground; however, data busses employ group grounds as required to achieve the desired settling time.

Timing

Since each interconnect module contains individual clock receivers and may be located at any physical location on the N-bus 16, clock and data skew must be accounted for. Maximum receiver transit times of 30 nanoseconds, bus settling time of 50 nanoseconds, and a resultant maximum clock skew of 50 nanoseconds occur. Thus, any unit placing data on an associated data bus is required to allow a 50 nanosecond minimum deskewing delay to allow other units on the bus an opportunity to reliably sample the associated data before it is changed by the module. With these assumptions, a worst case timing analysis (see FIG. 43B) of 227 nanoseconds can elapse between the arrival of the clock pulse at the driving unit and the appearance of the associated data at the receiving unit. Since the receiving unit is clocked at the end of the 260 nanosecond period, 33 nanoseconds remain for setup time plus clock jitter at the receiving register.

Power Supply System

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 37, and 50, the power supply system 34 comprises a series of power modules 284 for the generation of +5 VDC, +12 VDC and -12 VDC power for the remainder of the parallel process controller.

As seen in FIGS. 37 and 50, the AC power distribution emanates from the line inlet filter unit 164. This unit includes an inlet filter 285 for filtering incoming VAC power so as to minimize transient effects. An AC power indicator 286 shows a "POWER ON" condition. The AC distribution and circuit protect module 288 distribute AC power to service or utility outlets 289, to fan 228, and to the power supply system 34. A line sense indicator 290 shows proper AC power to the power supply system while line sense indicator 292 shows when a remote reset signal 293 is ON; that is, a remote 110 VAC or 220 VAC remote control signal is present.

The power supply system 34 comprises a voltage regulator transformer 295, and associated circuitry for generating a 48 VDC source of power on raw DC bus 296. A battery power backup system 19 incorporating a battery charger 236 and a battery pack 237 supply the 48 VDC to bus 296 during power failures. The battery pack consisting of four 20 ampere-hour rechargeable batteries is capable of providing sufficient DC power to drive the PPC for thirty seconds. The battery charging circuit 236 is of standard design providing constant current, constant voltage and "float charging" controls capable of sensing battery pack discharge for activating a standard charge-control circuitry.

The power supply system 34 also comprises a ±12 VDC DC to DC converter module 298 and a +5 VDC DC to DC converter module 300 for converting the 48 VDC power to the respective three direct current voltages. Two other +5 VDC converter modules 301 and 302 may be added to the power supply system if needed when a fully implement PPC is desired (up to 10 CMs, 2 DMs). The +5 volt converters may be operated in parallel in a bussed arrangement with load sharing between each converter. The outputs of these converters drive a DC distribution bus 303.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 37, the power supply system 34 is packaged in modules 166, some modules separately housing the rectifying circuitry and two converters while additional modules housing +5 VDC converters may be added.

Status Signal Requirements

As best seen in FIGS. 37 and 50, the power supply system 39 and line inlet filter unit 164 provide two types of status signals: wired connections to the GTCU 14 and visual status indication on various subsections of the power supply. The wired connections to the PPC allow programmed response to changes in power supply status. These signals reflect the general status of the power supply system and inlet power.

The first signal is an AC line monitor 162 which indicates when the AC line voltage is not suitable for continuous operation of the power supply. The user is then able to program appropriate delay and alarm functions.

A second signal 305 indicates a partial loss of capacity in the power supply system. When a portion of a power module shuts down, thereby reducing the reserve capacity of the power supply (without putting the outputs out of spec), a caution signal is generated. This creates a request for service or alarms the user that the reserve capacity built into the power supply has been used. A power fail signal indicates that the regulated outputs are about to go out of specification. When power is restored and all DC output voltages are stable, the power fail signal is cleared.

The visual status signals are to aid field and factory personnel during system troubleshooting. One group of indicators 306 on the power supply modules simply displays the status being transmitted to the GTCU. Each power module displays a go-no-go status. This allows a service person to quickly locate a faulty module, check its fuses, and if necessary replace it.

PACKAGING Main Assembly Enclosure

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 45 and 46, the frame and outside package for the parallel process controller is designed to protect the CM, DM, I/O, GTCU and filter modules while operating in an industrial environment. The frame 116 is preferably constructed of aluminum sheet metal. When closed, there are no exposed switches, controls, displays or connectors. The frame and PPC within is thus a hard-hat system, capable of withstanding the abuse that industrial, in-plant equipment must suffer.

The internal arrangement of modules within the parallel process controller and frame 116 meet the following criteria:

(1) All modules are removable (and reinstallable) through a front access panel 213.

(2) All connections to modules are accessible from the front of the frame 116.

(3) There is no backplane wiring.

(4) Printed circuit card edge contacts (discussed infra) mate with cable connectors 202, not with mounted connectors.

(5) Connectors for the N-Bus 16 are identical, regardless of the module being interconnected.

(6) Connectors for power are identical, regardless of the module being interconnected.

(7) Unused module slots are undedicated. Any type of module may be added in any slot.

(8) Module slots 214 are used as mechanical guides for loosely guiding modules into position. Module slots are designed to automatically shut off the air flow when the module is removed.

The main assembly enclosure on housing 116 is best seen in FIGS. 2, 45 and 46. FIG. 45 illustrates the upper portion of the housing with the front access door removed. A plurality of frames 215 enclosing individual CM's, DM's, GTCU, I/O's and filter modules are in place within the housing 116. FIG. 46 illustrates a mounted frame 215 with cable interconnections, heat dissipation and air flow equipment, busses, and shielding equipment.

Card frame modules 215 are removed by opening the front access door 213, pulling out the flat cable bus connectors 202, at the top of the module frame, pulling out the power connector 216 at the bottom front of the module frame, and drawing the frame forward out of the edge guides 214. Replacing a frame requires inserting the frame in the guides, pushing it back until it contacts the stops at the rear, and re-connecting the bus connector 202 and the power supply connector 215. When the front access door is closed, it provides a retaining strip that prevents the modules from vibrating or moving.

A command memory or data memory may be placed in any slot. All interconnecting cabling is identical in every slot. I/O expander card frame must be located in a slot not more than 10 slots from the end of the N-bus.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 45, and 46, the main assembly enclosures or housing 116 contains the following hardware:

(1) card module frames 215,

(2) a signal bus 16,

(3) a power bus 167,

(4) a filter blower assembly 217,

(5) I/O connections,

(6) radio frequency interference (RFI) filters 219, and

(7) air circulating system 220.

Printed Circuit Card Packaging

As best seen in FIGS. 46, 47A and 47B, printed circuit cards 222 are employed to fabricate the various CM, DM, I/O, GTCU and filter modules. These cards are large (approximately 14"×22") and are single layer two-sided boards with plated-through holes. Each command memory is housed on a single card, as is each data memory. The basic I/O card contains 2 I/O channels (channels 0 and 1). Two additional I/O expander cards each contain the hardware for 4 additional I/O channels (channels 2-5 and 6-9). Two I/O filter cards will filter 6 channels each for a total of 10 channels and 2 spaces (filter units number 0 and 1--see FIG. 1).

Each card mounts approximately 150 integrated circuit (IC) chips. Each IC is allowed approximately two square inches of board space.

Each card is housed in an aluminum frame as best seen in FIGS. 47A, 47B, 48A, 48B and 48C. The frame edges are of extruded aluminum, and provision has been made for the card edge electrical contacts to project through the frame. A control and status display 223 incorporating the GTCU status display 192 (see FIG. 36) for the GTCU module and the DM error indicator 109 for DM modules, is mounted on a plate 224 and accessed through an aperture 225 in the front of the frame. The side panels 227, when installed, provide strength and rigidity to the card frame, as well as providing RFI-EMI shielding.

CABLING Power Bus

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 46, a solid copper laminated power bus 303 is used to distribute power to each of the modules. The voltage drops are minimal with such a bus. Individual pigtails and mate and lock-type connectors 216, such as those manufactured by the Amphenol Company, interconnect each module to the power bus. Each module may be individually disconnected for removal. Power for the power bus enters the main assembly enclosure at the bottom left hand side. Filtered AC power for fan 228 is brought up from the power supplies and terminated in a connector box in the base of the main assembly enclosure 116.

N-Bus

The N-bus 16 is a flexible flat cable with 50 signal lines. This bus permits structural flexibility of undedicated slots in the main assembly enclosure. A flat cable connector 202 similar to the 3M Company "stake-on" connectors is used to interconnect the bus to each module.

Main Assembly Enclosure Cooling

As best seen in FIGS. 46 and 47B, the card modules within the main assembly enclosure 116 must dissipate up to 2000 watts of power in a fully implemented parallel processor controller 10. While systems which contain fewer than the full number of modules produce proportionally less heat, the cooling consideration is based on the fully implemented system since each PPC can be expanded to the maximum configuration at any time. Two thousand watts of heat cannot be dissipated by conduction and convection alone in an enclosure as small as the main assembly enclosure. To insure that no damaging heat occurs, the PPC employs a fan 228 and a system of air chambers. FIG. 46 illustrates the location of the fan, an air intake chamber 230, an air distribution plenum 231, and an air exhaust chamber 232.

Air filters 217 are used at the air entry and exit points to screen dirt and airborne contaminants. Because filters become clogged and dirty and must be changed regularly, a temperature sensor with an over-temperature indicator on each P.C. board is monitored continuously. If a predetermined temperature is exceeded, an alarm (not shown) is activated to remind the operator to clean or change the filters.

Each printed circuit card 222 is conformally coated with a dense resin coating to prevent contaminants and corrosive fumes that may pass through the filters from damaging these cards and components placed thereon.

The air inlet and outlet are RFI shielded by RFI filters 219 to prevent the entry of unwanted RFI and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

The Cooling Fan

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 46, and 47B, the fan 228 draws air in at the bottom of the main assembly enclosure and forces it to flow through the card frames 215. The direction of air flow produces a positive pressure within the enclosure, so that any air entering the enclosure must do so through the air inlet filter 217.

RFI Shielding

As best seen in FIGS. 47A and 47B, the aluminum frames 215 which house the printed circuit cards 222 provide RFI shielding for these cards. The bus power lines are shielded by the outside main housing 216 and by baffling and I/O isolation filter cards. The air inlet and exits have RFI filters 219 associated with them.

As best seen in FIG. 49, the RFI shield 219 for input and output air comprises a plurality of rugged, finned extrusions 234 for providing this shielding function.

The I/O Card Frames

The I/O card module frames differ from the command memory and data memory card module frames in that they cannot be plugged randomly into any slot in the main assembly enclosure. While the physical appearance of the I/O card module frames matches that of the command and data memories, the need to provide RFI filtering from the outside shielded cables that bring signals from the remote modems dictates that the I/O filter, driver and receiver frame be located at one side of the main assembly enclosure. The left-most slots are therefore dedicated to this requirement.

The basic I/O card module frame that contains two channels of I/O as well as certain housekeeping and timing function, may be positioned in any slot.

Overview of Expansion

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 95, and 92, increasing the size of the parallel process controller 10 is accomplished by simply adding pieces to a structure designed for expansion. This section considers (1) the functional implications in terms of the number of CM's, DM's and I/O modules added, and (2) the mechanical design features which allow expansion.

Increasing Controller Capability

The parallel process controller task is expressed in the line, and the simplest version of the process controller is capable of carrying out 200 lines of instruction repetitively. The PPC at its minimum consists of a single command memory 12, an I/O system with two I/O channels 26 and 27 (one I/O memory 22), and the attendant power supply. The addition of a programming panel 30 and an associated ASCII interface 21 to this basic system permits the preparation, monitoring, and operation of 200 lines of instruction. All 200 lines are executed every 10 milliseconds. There is limited memory space 50 within the command memory (see FIG. 6) available for the storage of 40 lines of information. These can be used as scratch-pad or as stored reference data as the user desires; however, if larger data storage is required, additional memory must be added.

Expansion of the basic parallel process controller can occur in three different ways:

(1) Command memories (up to a total of ten) can be added in parallel. Each additional CM adds 200 lines of instruction capability to the basic machine. The scan rate (the rate at which all 200 lines of each CM are serviced) remains the same, once every 10 milliseconds except that 200× N lines will be scanned in 10 milliseconds (where N equals the number of CM's, up to 10). CM's do not communicate directly with each other.

(2) Data memories 18 (up to a total to two) can be added. Each DM adds 4000 lines of memory space to the parallel process controller. All DM lines are addressable by any CM.

(3) I/O channels (up to a total of ten) can be added, in increments of two with I/O memories, each supporting up to four I/O channels. Each channel adds 10 lines of input and 10 lines of output capability.

Mechanical Consideration of Expansion

The mechanical package of the parallel process controller consists of command memory modules, data memory modules, I/O modules, and an appropriate chassis 116 in which to mount them. The power supply is packaged similarly and consists of a number of power modules mounted in an open frame which provides mechanical support.

Each parallel processor module is packaged in a self-contained, free-standing, aluminum housing 215. These housings have provisions for connection to the N bus 16 and power bus 303 which are common to all modules. The modules are assembled side by side, making the bus interconnections straight forward. The module assembly is enclosed in an electrically shielded chassis 116 which provides forced-air cooling of the modules. The mechanical package is designed for simple, economical expansion of the PPC. The housing has a minimum number of connectors since the N bus interconnection is accomplished by a flexible daisy-chain which is mechanically separate from the housing. The simplicity of the housing makes it relatively inexpensive. It is both possible and economically feasible for a user to purchase a housing capable of accepting up to twenty modules, even though his immediate requirement is for only a single CM and the minimum I/O of two channels. Subsequently, when his needs increase, he can expand his processor by adding only those modules he needs. CM's, DM's, or additional I/O channels can be accommodated by adding the modules. Nothing (hardware or software) of his original system must be scrapped since each additional piece builds on his initial minimum system.

All bus connectors on all modules are identical, and all power supply connectors on all modules are identical.

USING THE PARALLEL PROCESS CONTROLLER I/O SYSTEM AND PROGRAMMING PANEL Using the Parallel Process Controller I/O System

As discussed earlier and as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 38, the parallel process controller input/output remote modem 30 multiplexes 10 input and 10 output lines. Each line accommodates 64 bits of data or conditions plus 16 bits of status and control. Each remote modem exists as a separate channel of information when coupled to a matching local modem 31 within the input/output system 20. There are a minimum of two and a maximum of ten such channels. The remote modems are hardened, hard-hat modules designed especially for industrial environment. Peripheral devices, including programming, display and monitoring panels 36 and memory loaders 37 communicate with the PPC 10 through interconnection to the first two ports 32 of channel zero only. Other peripherals, including CRT's, printers, analog to digital converters and programmable controller 156 can be interfaced through any other line of any channel. When interfaced with programmable controllers, the parallel process controller 10 can provide hierarchical parallel process control with interconnect capability to industrial devices now being controlled by programmable controllers.

Each I/O channel is designed to operate error free in typical industrial environments over distances of several thousand feet. Each channel is updated every eight milliseconds during normal electrical noise conditions.

Using the Programming Panel

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 51, the programming panel 36 provides the controls and displays necessary to progran, to monitor, to modify, and to test the performance of the parallel process controller. FIG. 51 illustrates the operating area of a programming panel.

Internally, the programming panel is an intelligent terminal with a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and ROM memory program.

The principle of operation and implementation of the programming panel is set in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,686,639, entitled "Digital Computer-Industrial Controller System and Apparatus," 3,930,233, entitled "Data Transfer and Manipulation Apparatus for Industrial Computer Controllers," and 3,944,984, entitled "Computer Controller System With a Reprogrammable Read Only Memory," all assigned to the Modicon Corporation of Andover, Massachusetts, and all incorporated by reference. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639 discloses operation and implementation of relay logic, the U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,233 patent discloses program and monitoring nonrelay logic, and the U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,984 patent discloses implementation and operation of the scroll and trace features discussed more fully infra. As best seen in FIG. 1, it is hardware interfaced to a remote ASCII interface 21 and operates through channel φ, ASCII port zero. Communication between the programming panel and command memories 12 is controlled by special firmware within the command memories with which the programming panel has been programmed to interact.

Additionally, all of the interaction between panel switches and readouts is controlled by programs stored in ROM memory in the programming panel CPU. This programming panel functions like any other peripheral device; i.e., at remote locations up to several thousand feet away from the main assembly enclosure 116 (FIG. 2). Each programming panel has a self-contained RS232-C asynchronous interface for communicating over an I/O channel capable of accepting ASCII data. Two external control devices may be connected to the system at one time. One for programming (port zero), and one for memory loading (port one). These devices must be wired to the ASCII interface 21 connected to I/O channel 0.

The programming panel 36 in one embodiment is a portable unit and in another embodiment is incorporated in a panel suitable for standard 19 inch rack mounting. As best seen in FIG. 52, the programming panel in a third embodiment can incorporate a CRT display 238. FIG. 51 illustrates a programming panel without a CRT display, utilizing a display panel 240 to visualize information.

The programming panel permits the user to:

(1) Enter the control programs. These can be logic lines, timer lines, counter lines, data transfer lines, test lines, calculate lines, and data transformation lines;

(2) Check out the entire control system. Each electrical element of the system to be controlled can be manipulated and monitored to determine its operating status; and

(3) Troubleshoot the machine or process. After the machine or the process has been initiated, the programming panel can be used to monitor the complete operation, and each of the steps can be traced by the panel's visual indicators.

Control programs are entered from the programming panel by entering instructions on selected lines of a chosen command memory's 200 user programmable lines 48 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). These lines can be created from conventional elementary ladder diagrams, or directly from the process flow block diagram. If programmed from ladder diagrams, each line of instruction contains an output which is activated by four control elements, the equivalent of relay contacts in the line. Each of these elements may be normally open or normally closed contacts connected in series or parallel configuration.

As explained earlier and as best seen in FIGS. 4, 9-16SS, and 51, there are five 16-bit registers in each eighty bit line. They are labeled instruction or I 38, reference or R 40, A, B, and C 42. The instruction register contents are shown by lighting the corresponding lighted instruction pushbutton 241 in the instruction display and D, K, suspend, disable pushbuttons 242-245 respectively of the programming group. The opcode is selected on keyboard 246 and displayed in composing register 248. The contents of the R, A, B and C registers are displayed directly in BCD or hexadecimal numbers in the logic line display 240. If the instruction register is programmed for relay logic, the programming panel is the functional equivalent of the programming panel described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,639. Lighted color bars (not shown) show power flow for logic lines. The contact references are displayed for each register as shown in FIGS. 51 and 52. If the instruction display indicates an instruction other than relay logic, then registers A, B, and C are used to store data (or the address of data) to be operated upon. The value of this data, or the address where data is to be obtained, is displayed on CRT display 238 or display panel 240. Display panel 240 also indicates if the number displayed is an address by denoting such as "Remote." The R or reference register display indicates the reference line number and the reference condition (D, E, S or K) selected.

Program changes are made by displaying the line to be changed and operating on it in the same manner as it was originally programmed. The programming panel may also be used to simply display the entire 200-line program stored in each command memory, line by line.

Programming Panel Controls and Displays

As best seen in FIG. 51, a keylock switch 247 allows the user to display lines within the PPC and to operate or program any of these lines.

Entry Keypad

As best seen in FIG. 51, the entry keypad 246 allows the operator to key in the line number or input to be programmed and displayed on the programming panel. This line number is displayed in the "Line Number" region 250 of display panel 240. The entry keypad contains its own composing register 248 where the keyed-in number is stored until the LINE NUMBER switch 251 or one of the SELECTED REGISTER switches 252 is depressed.

The entry keypad remains a local key-and-display area, with its own Clear Key 253, until one of the switches 251 or 252 is pressed. At that time, the number displayed is transferred to the Line Number register or the selected register. If the LINE NUMBER switch 251 is depressed, the three or four digit number in the composing register is transferred to the Line Number display 250, and that line is displayed. If a SELECTED REGISTER switch 252 is depressed, the number stored in the composing register is transferred to that register.

Line Number Display

The line number display of display panel 240 presents the complete information content of any line within any line of the parallel process controller. Properly instructed, it will fetch any line in any command memory, data memory, or I/O memory and display the entire contents of that line, including all condition references.

There are seven sections to the line number display.

THUMBWHEEL SWITCH

The thumbwheel switch 254 allows the operator to manually select the command memory to be displayed or programmed. It is a single lever with numbers from 0 to 9, corresponding to the command memories φ to 9.

LINE NUMBER INDICATOR

The line number indicator 250 displays the memory location of the line being displayed (command memory, data memory or I/O) and the number of the line. If the line is from the command memory selected by the thumbwheel switch, the line number will have three digits. If the line is from data memory or the I/O, it will have four digits.

REFERENCE REGISTER

The reference register, or R register, is the first of four 4-digit, 16bit registers that contain the line's information. It is generally a direct or transitional contact reference for the activation of the line upon the occurrence of a selected event related to a selected condition of a selected reference line.

A Register

The A register is the second 4-digit, 16 bit display. It is used exclusively as a direct reference (within the command memory). It cannot refer to lines in data memory or the I/O register. The information contained in the A register may be a contact reference, data (local), or it may be an address (remote) within the selected CM.

B Register

The B register is the third 4-digit, 16 bit display. It is used exclusively as a remote reference. It can refer to lines in command memory, data memory or the I/O system. The information in the register, when not a contact reference, is always an address.

C Register

The C register is the fourth, and last, 4-digit, 16 bit display. It can only refer to addresses within the command memory. The information within its register may be a contact reference, data (local), or an address (remote).

DISABLE CONTROL AND DISPLAY

The disable control switch 245 allows the operator to disable the coil and ready bits of the displayed line. A line may be enabled or disabled by depressing this lighted pushbutton. This feature is valuable during initial program debugging and troubleshooting. When a line is disabled, K and D conditions may be toggled by depressing the K and D display lighted pushbuttons 256 and 257.

SUSPEND CONTROL & DISPLAY

The suspend lighted pushbutton 244 ordinarily indicates when processing of a line has been suspended due to a suspend statement. A selected line may also be forced to suspend or to start processing by depressing the control. This feature is useful during reprogramming and debugging operations when references are to be changed.

TRACE CONTROLS

Trace control is accomplished by lighted pushbutton trace switches 259, one for each of the R, A, B, C registers, which allow the operator to transfer the line number referenced in each register to the line number display. The contents of the moved line will then be displayed. Thus as seen in FIG. 51, if the register A trace pushbutton is depressed, line number 4523 would be displayed in line number display 250 along with the display of the R, A, B, and C registers in the remainder of display panel 240. The previously displayed line number will be transferred to the composing register 248 and can be recalled by pressing the retrace switch 260. Up to four line numbers may be stacked in the composing register. They may be recalled sequentially, in reverse order by switch 260.

ELEMENT TYPE PUSHBUTTONS

The element type pushbuttons 262, 263, 264 and 265 provide the operator with the four contact types that can be placed in the R, A, B, and C registers of a logic line. The contact types are best seen in FIGS. 10A and 15C and correspond to the element type pushbuttons 262-265:

(1) normally open series contact 49,

(2) normally closed series contact 51,

(3) normally open parallel contact (A, B, C only) 53; and

(4) normally closed parallel contact (A, B, C only) 59.

The reference register may be set with pushbuttons 262, 263 and off-to-on transition 267 and on-to-off transition 268. As best seen in FIGS. 10 and 15A, these pushbuttons correspond to contact specifications 41, 43, 45 and 47 respectively.

Contact closures are entered into a line of logic by depressing the lighted pushbutton for the type to be entered, which causes only that specific pushbutton to remain lighted and flashing indicating ready by not entered; entering the appropriate reference number into the composing register; and then pressing the desired REGISTER SELECT pushbutton 252. The contact type and reference numbers are then both displayed in the selected register and all of the logic element type pushbuttons are off.

INSTRUCTIONS

A group of lighted pushbuttons 270 is utilized both to display the instruction for the line number currently being displayed, and to program a new instruction. The current instruction is indicated by a steady-state lighted condition of the appropriate pushbutton. If another pushbutton is pressed, its light will then alternately flash ON and OFF to indicate that it has been selected for entry. The operator then must select the element type and enter the reference number in the composing register. Pressing a reference register select pushbutton 252 causes all of this information to be entered into the line. The flashing instruction pushbutton 241 then becomes continuously ON and the previously lit pushbutton is turned OFF.

SCROLL SEARCH CONTROL AND DISPLAY

The scroll control switch 272 allows the programming panel operator to electronically rotate the complete 10,000 lines of memory accessible to a selected command memory through the line display 240. The scrolling switch is a bidirectional center-off switch. Holding the switch in either of the "+" or "-" positions causes the lines to "roll" through the display; much as mechanical roll chart rolls information by a reader.

The specific lines to be presented on the line display may be chosen by pushbutton switches 244 and 273, 274, 275, 276, 277 and 278 which accompany the scroll control. By selecting either the coil 273 or ready 274 pushbuttons with a line pushbutton 278, the scroll control displays only those lines which have the coil or ready in the true state. The disable pushbutton 275 causes only those lines which are disabled to be displayed. Pressing the "With Reference" pushbutton 276 and then operating the scroll control causes the display to refer sequentially to the reference register address of the line displayed, then to display the reference register address of that line and so forth. A memory stack keeps track of the path followed, so that the operator may return to the line of origin.

BIT DISPLAY

A bit pushbutton 277 allows any selected line to be displayed and modified as a 64 bit binary pattern. A cursor, controlled by the scroll switch 272 may be positioned over any individual bit to be modified. The entry display indicates which bit is selected. Depressing the T or F button of the keyboard 246 causes setting (T) or clearing (F) of the selected bit, and advances the cursor to the next position; thus allowing entry of arbitrary binary codes and display of discrete I/O information.

DATA DISPLAY

Datums are normally displayed as 16 hexadecimal digits if BCD or binary, or as eight alphanumeric characters if ASCII. The entire 7-bit ASCII set is displayed, using prefixes " " to indicate "control" and " " to indicate "Lower Case" zones.

As best seen in FIG. 52, the CRT embodiment of programming panel 36 incorporates eight command keys 280 to be utilized as general purpose command switches. Each key is labeled by a particular region 282 of the CRT display 238. Depending on the key selected, the keys 280 will represent additional programming data, as illustrated by region 282 of the CRT display. The CRT display for this region is driven by software within the programming panel. Thus, each key of command keys 280 represents a multiplicity of functions depending on the previously selected command keys. This programming panel key arrangement greatly reduces the number of keys necessary for implementing a desired program due to the multi-function representation of the command keys. Furthermore, additional commands can be added to an existing programming panel by simply adding to he the

Programming Example

As best seen in FIGS. 53 through 56D, the programming of the parallel process controller to control a desired process is straight forward. As best seen in FIG. 53, here a desired process to be controlled is to automatically feed material 307 from a hopper 308 to a conveyor 309 through the use of a weighing hopper 310, to calculate the weight of material fed to the conveyor, and to store the calculated weight data. FIG. 53 and Table 15 also illustrate the first step in programming the PPC (supra, software description); that is, to describe the process.

Once the process is described, a ladder block diagram as best seen in FIGS. 54A-54C is prepared which illustrates in symbolic ladder diagram language of the steps involved in controlling the desired process. FIG. 55 illustrates the notations utilized in the ladder block diagram of FIGS. 54A-54C.

From the ladder block diagram, the industrial control engineer prepares the parallel process controller program for implementing the control process. This program is seen in FIGS. 56A-56D. Once this program is prepared, the connections between the I/O system 20 and the hopper 308, weighing hopper 310, and conveyor 309 are made and the PPC is programmed via the programming panel 36 (see FIGS. 1, 51 and 52). Debugging of the program is performed with the use of the programming panel, and once completed, the process may be fully controlled by the PPC.

                                      TABLE 14                                     __________________________________________________________________________     GLOSSARY                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________     AC REFERENCE -        An R-register condition reference made to                                      the transition of a condition (coil).                    ARITHMETIC STATEMENT -                                                                               A statement which requires numerical                                           calculation. (+, -, ×, ÷, <, =,etc.)           CHANNEL -             The 2-way communication link between the I/O                                   system of the parallel process controller and the                              outside world. One channel is capable of trans-                                mitting to and from the parallel process                                       controller                                                                     ten error-free lines of data every five                                        milliseconds.                                            CHARACTER -           A symbolic quantity expressed as a hexidecimal or                              8-bit quantity with a data register.                     COIL -                A condition (K) indicating the status of a line.                               When                                                                           line status is true, the coil is enabled. A coil                               is                                                                             associated with each line in memory.                     COMMAND MEMORY (CM) - A basic parallel process controller                                            module containing a processor and                                              200 lines of memory.                                     CONDITION -           A descrete quantity (true or false) operated on                                by a CM.                                                 CONDITION REFERENCE - A quantity specifying a condition to be                                        used by a statement within a command                                           memory. In any statement, the R register                                       is a condition reference and may refer to                                      coil (K), ready (D), input (E), or stepper                                     (S) conditions. In certain types of state-                                     ments, the A, B, or C registers may also                                       contain references to K or D, E or S                                           conditions.                                              CONTACT SPECIFICATION -                                                                              A logical operation command (in con-                                           junction with a condition reference)                                           in the A, B, or C fields of certain                                            statements. Specifically, a series,                                            shunt, normally open, or normally                                              closed reference (and, or, nand, nor)                                          defining a logical node.                                 COUNT STATEMENT -     A statement which permits numerical accumula-                                  tion of discrete events.                                 CRT -                 A cathode ray tube or more commonly a display                                  terminal                                                                       which contains a television type visual display.         DATA -                Any quantity operated on by the parallel process                               controller.                                                                    In a datum, the 64 bits formed by the R, A, B, and                             C                                                                              registers. In certain statements, data may be                                  stored                                                                         in the A, B, or C register.                              DATA MANIPULATION STATEMENT -                                                                        Arithmetic or move statement.                            DATA MEMORY (DM) -    An optional data base memory module storing                                    1000 lines of 80 bit words. From 0 to 2                                        such modules comprise a parallel process                                       controller. Each occupies a single module                                      position.                                                DATA REFERENCE -      A quantity used to indicate the location                                       of data.                                                 DATUM -               A line containing data. The I register specifies                               data format and coil. The combination of the R, A,                             B and C registers form a 64 bit quantity                                       consisting                                                                     of 16 bit digits, eight 8-bit characters or sixty-                             four 1-bit conditions.                                   DC REFERENCE -        A static (non-transitional) condition reference.         DIGIT -               A numeric quantity which has a decimally weighted                              value 0-9. Digits are expressed in BCD or ASCII.         DISABLE -             A programming feature by which conditions                                      associated                                                                     with a line may be deactivated and controlled by a                             programming device. When a line is disabled, its                               associated Coil (K) and Ready (D) conditions can                               be remotely controlled.                                  FULL DUPLEX -         The communications technique employed between                                  the local and remote modems in the I/O channel.                                Both modems can operate as transmitter and re-                                 ceiver simultaneously. Data flows in both di-                                  rections at the same time.                               HARDWARE -            Permanent electrical circuitry which makes up an                               electronic system. Usually refers to the circuitry                             of a computer.                                           HARDWIRED -           Similar to hardware but usually referring to                                   programs which are a permanent part of the                                     circuitry of a processor.                                INPUT TRANSFORMERS -  A group of 4 lines, in each command                                            memory module which map the status of                                          individual bits of words placed in these                                       locations into input (E) conditions.                     I/O CHANNEL -         Three modules which handle such housekeeping                                   tasks as timing and synchronizing and which                                    pass data to and from all peripheral devices,                                  through 10 channels. Each channel multiplexes                                  10 inputs and 10 output lines and each line                                    accommodates 64 bits of data or conditions plus                                16 bits of status and control.                           LINE -                A location in memory. A line may be either a                                   statement                                                                      or a datum. A line contains 80 bits or 5 registers                             of                                                                             16 bits each.                                            MODEM -               A device for transmitting or receiving information                             serially over a line.                                    MOVE STATEMENT -      A statement capable of copying information                                     between memory locations. (e.g. move in                                        data, move out data, move in line, move                                        out line statements)                                     N-BUS -               A time-shared 50-wire bus that interconnects the                               CM's, DM's, and the I/O system.                          NODE -                A register (R, A, B or C) representing a contact                               specification and condition reference in a relay                               statement. Each node corresponds to a circuit node                             in an equivalent relay-ladder diagram.                   OUTPUT TRANSFORMERS - A group of 4 lines in each command                                             memory, each of which indicates the                                            status of a set of 64 coil (K) bits                                            corresponding to lines in the command                                          memory.                                                  PARALLEL PROCESSING - A method of performing tasks in which                                          several tasks are pursued at once. For                                         a given type of machine, this is usually                                       faster than serial processing where one                                        task is completed before another is begun.               PERIPHERAL -          A piece of electronic or electromechanical equip-                              ment external to the parallel process controller,                              such as a teletypewriter, printer, digital, volt-                              meter, etc.                                              PROGRAMMING PANEL -   A portable terminal used to gain access to                                     the stored information in the parallel                                         process controller in order to observe the                                     operation, change the program, or input a                                      new program.                                             READY -               A condition (D) indicating the completion of                                   execution of                                                                   a statement. Available within the command memory                               only.                                                    REGISTER -            A portion of a line containing 16 bits. A                                      statement                                                                      contains five registers, I, R, A, B, and C. The I                              register specifies operation type and status. The                              R, A, B, and C registers each contain four digit                               references and/or data. A datum combines the R, A,                             B,                                                                             and C registers into a 64 bit quantity, expressed                              as                                                                             sixteen 4-bit or eight 8-bit characters or digits,                             or                                                                             as sixty-four 1-bit conditions.                          RELAY STATEMENT -     A statement combining condition references                                     in a four term logical function.                         REMOTE DATA REFERENCE -                                                                              A quantity indicating the location of a                                        data reference.                                          RFI -                 Radio frequency interference, conducted or                                     radiated                                                                       electromagnetic energy capable of causing erratic                              operation. This can be caused by arcing of switch                              contacts, motors, static electricity and many                                  similar                                                                        noise sources.                                           SCRATCHPAD MEMORY -   A small area of memory used for storing                                        intermediate results.                                    SELF-CHECK -          A technique for verifying integrity of data                                    (lines) transmitted between local and remote                                   modems in the I/O channel.                               SERIAL PROCESSING -   See parallel processing.                                 SOFTWARE -            The programs required to direct the activities of                              a computer. Most computers must utilize a software                             package unique to each machine.                          STATEMENT -           A parallel process controller instruction which                                defines an operation to be carried out under                                   control                                                                        of condition references.                                 __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         PROGRAMMING EXAMPLE                                                            Operation:                                                                     ______________________________________                                         (i)  Select AUTO position on SELRCTER 1, and AUTO,                                  STOP lamps turn on.                                                       (ii) Push START push-button-switch when starting conditions                         are satisfied, and OPERATION lamp turns on, STOP                               lamp turns off and the feeder begins to operate.                          (iii)                                                                               When the weight of material in the weighing-hopper                             is less than 90% of the set point, feed in high                                speed.                                                                    (iv) If it is not less than 90%, feed in low speed.                            (v)  When the weight reaches the set point, stop feeding                            from the hopper.                                                          (vi) 2 seconds later, weigh the material in the weighing-                           hopper, store the datum, and, if the conveyor is in                            operation, open the gate of weighing hopper.                              (vii)                                                                               5 seconds later, weigh the residue in the weighing-                            hopper, calculate the weight delivered to the con-                             veyor, store the data and close the gate of weighing                           hopper.                                                                   (viii)                                                                              Repeat steps iii through vii.                                             (ix) Push STOP push-button-switch, and STOP lamp turns                              on, but usually the system does not cease operation                            immediately.                                                              (x)  When STOP lamp is on and vii is finished, the                                  system stops operation and OPERATION lamp turns off.                      (xi) Push EMERGENCY STOP push-button-switch whenever                                any trouble occurs, and the system stops operation                             immediately. OPERATION, STOP lamps turning off.                           ______________________________________                                    

It is assumed that the acquired data are stored consecutively for later use.

Thus what has been described is a parallel process controller, capable of controlling complex processes, which is expandable and programmable by the industrial control engineer having no computer programming experience. The controller incorporates an expandable number of command memory modules each solving user instruction lines in a parallel, time invariant, fashion; thereby maintaining uniform response time regardless of the complexity of the process under control.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein decribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A method of sending selected output data from a local location to a remote location and sending selected input data from the remote location to the local location, comprising the steps of:(1) the local location selecting and sending output data to the remote location; (2) the remote location receiving and echoing back to the local location the output data sent in step 1; (3) the local location receiving and error-checking the echoed selected output data with that sent in step 1; (4) if an error is detected in step 3, returning to step 1; (5) if no error is detected in step 3, the local location generating and sending to the remote location a first signal indicating desired selected input data; (6) the remote location receiving and echoing the received first signal to the local location; (7) the remote location obtaining the desired selected input data; (8) the local location receiving the echoed first signal and error-checking it with the first signal sent in step 5; (9) if an error is detected in step 8, returning to step 5; (10) if no error is detected in step 8, assuming at the local location that a successful transfer of output data from the local location to the remote location has occurred; (11) the local location generating and sending a second signal to the remote location, the second signal requesting transferral of the input data obtained in step 7; (12) the remote location receiving the second signal and sending to the local location the desired selected input data obtained in step 7; (13) the local location receiving and storing the requested input data; (14) the local location generating and sending a third signal requesting the transferral of the same input data requested in step 11 to the remote location; (15) the remote location receiving the third signal and echoing back the desired selected input data to the local location; (16) the local location receiving and storing the desired selected input data sent in step 15 and error-checking this data with that received in step 13; (17) if an error is detected in step 16, the local location substituting the data received in step 16 for that received in step 13 and returning to step 14; and (18) if no error is detected in step 16, the local location assuming a successful transfer of input data has occurred from the remote location to the local location and returning to step
 1. 2. A method of sending data as defined in claim 1, wherein the local location at step 1 further generates a fourth signal indicating whether the output data there sent has been previously sent to the remote location and wherein the remote location generates a fifth signal along with the input data sent to the local location in step 12, the fifth signal indicating whether the desired selected input data has been previously sent to the local location.
 3. A method of sending data as defined in claim 2, wherein the remote location obtains desired selected input data from the remote external world and obtains this data by generating a data request signal informing the remote external world to load data into a data buffer associated with the remote location.
 4. A method of sending data as defined in claim 3, wherein no new input data is requested from the remote external world after receipt by the remote location of the second signal.
 5. A method of sending data as defined in claim 4, wherein the local location communicates with a local external world and wherein the local location obtains the selected output data from the local external world and transfers to the local external world received selected input data from the remote external world.
 6. A method of sending data as defined in claim 5, wherein the fourth signal is communicated from the remote location to the remote external world along with the output data received from the local location so as to indicate to the remote external world the status of the output data and further wherein the fifth signal is communicated from the local location to the local external world to indicate the status of the communicated input data received from the remote location.
 7. A method of sending data as defined in claim 6, wherein the communicating of output data from the local external world to the local location and of input data from the local location to the local external world occurs for only a short predetermined length of time during which no transferral of data or signals from the local location to the remote location or from the remote location to the local location occurs.
 8. A method of sending data as defined in claim 7, wherein the transferral of output data from the local external world to the local location and input data from the local location to the local external world occurs after step 18 but before returning to step
 1. 9. A method of sending data as defined in claim 3, wherein the local location communicates with a local external world and wherein the local location obtains the selected output data from the local external world and transfers to the local external world received selected input data from the remote external world.
 10. A method of sending data as defined in claim 9, wherein the fourth signal is communicated from the remote location to the remote external world along with the output data received from the local location so as to indicate to the remote external world the status of the output data and further wherein the fifth signal is communicated from the local location to the local external world to indicate the status of the communicated input data received from the remote location.
 11. A method of sending data as defined in claim 10, wherein the communicating of output data from the local external world to the local location and of input data from the local location to the local external world occurs for only a short predetermined length of time during which no transferral of data or signals from the local location to the remote location or from the remote location to the local location occurs.
 12. A method of sending data as defined in claim 11, wherein the transferral of output data from the local external world to the local location and input data from the local location to the local external world occurs after step 18 but before returning to step
 1. 13. A method of sending selected output data from a local location to a remote location and sending selected input data from the remote location to the local location, for use of the output data by the remote external world and for use of the input data by the local external world comprising the steps of:(1) the local location selecting and obtaining output data from the local external world; (2) the local location entering a data output mode by generating a first header (Hφ) including "output new word" data indicating whether the obtained output data from the local external world is new data; (3) the local location sending the first header with the selected output data to the remote location; (4) the remote location receiving and storing the selected output data and at least a portion of the first header including the "output new word" data and the selected output data; (5) the remote location echoing the first header and the selected output data received in step 4 back to the local location; (6) the local location receiving and error checking the echoed first header and echoed selected output data respectively with the first header and selected output data sent to the remote location in step 3; (7) if an error is detected in step 6, returning to step 3; (8) if no error is detected in step 6, the local location entering the output verify mode by generating a second header (H1) including data representing addressable desired input data to be sent from the remote location to the local location; (9) the local location sending the second header to the remote location; (10) the remote location receiving the second header and then allowing the stored output data and status of the "output new word" data received in step 4 to be used by the remote external world, the remote location storing at least the portion of the second header representing the address of the desired input data and obtaining from the remote external world the data at the desired address; (11) the remote location echoing the received second header to the local location; (12) the local location receiving the echoed second header and error checking it with the second header sent to the remote location in step 9; (13) if an error is detected in step 12, returning to step 9; (14) if no error is detected in step 12, assuming at the local location that a successful transfer of output data from the local location to the remote location has occurred and the local location entering the data input mode by generating a third header (H2); (15) the local location sending the third header to the remote location; (16) the remote location receiving the third header and echoing back to the local location at least the desired input data obtained from the remote external world in step 10 along with "input new word" data indicating whether the obtained input data from the remote external world is new; (17) the local location receiving and storing the requested input data and the "input new word" data; (18) the local location entering the data input verify mode by generating a fourth header (H3); (19) the local location sending at least the fourth header to the remote location; (20) the remote location receiving the fourth header; (21) the remote location echoing back at least a portion of the fourth header to the local location along with the desired selected input data and the "new input word" data; (22) the local location receiving and storing the desired selected input data and the "new input word" data sent in step 21 and error checking these data respectively with the data received in step 17; (23) if an error is detected in step 22, the local location regarding the data received in step 22 as that received in step 17 and returning to step 18; and (24) if no error is detected in step 22, the local location assuming a successful transfer of data has occurred from the remote location to the local location and allowing the local external world to use the input data and "new input word" data stored in step 22, and returning to step 1;whereby output data is obtained from the local external world and is error-free transferred from the local location to the remote location for use by the remote external world with data indicating the newness of the output data and whereby input data is obtained from the remote external world and is error-free transferred from the remote location to the local location for use by the local external world with data indicating the newness of the input data.
 14. A method of sending data as defined in claim 13, wherein the input data and output data respectively comprise P and Q addressable lines of data, where P and Q are positive integers.
 15. A method of sending data as defined in claim 14, wherein the output data and input data comprise addressable lines of data which are sequentially and repetitively transferred according to steps 1-24.
 16. A method of sending data as defined in claim 15, wherein the lines of output data and input data comprise an invariant number of binary bits.
 17. A method of sending data as defined in claim 16, wherein the first, second, third and fourth headers each comprise a fixed number of binary bits.
 18. A method of sending data as defined in claim 17, wherein each header precedes any output data or input data associated therewith.
 19. A method of sending data as defined in claim 18, wherein arbitrary data is generated by the local location along with the third header (H2) and fourth header (H3) and wherein said arbitrary data is sent to the remote location with the third header and fourth header respectively.
 20. A method of sending data as defined in claim 19, wherein the echoing of data from the remote location to the local location occurs while the remote location is receiving data from the local location.
 21. A method of sending data as defined in claim 14, wherein the input data, output data, and first, second, third and fourth headers comprise binary bits.
 22. A method of sending data as defined in claim 21, wherein the local location at step 1 repetitively sequentially selects one of the Q addressable output data lines and wherein the local location at step 8 repetitively sequentially selects one of the P addressable input data lines.
 23. A method of sending data as defined in claim 22, wherein the first, second, third and fourth headers comprise at least 16 digital bits, with at least one bit for the state of the "output new word" data or "input new word" data, at least one bit for the complement of the "output new word" data or "input new word" data, at least four bits for the line number of the selected input data line or of the selected output data line, at least four bits for the complement of the line number of the selected input data line or of the selected output data line, at least two bits for a code representing the first, second, third or fourth header, at least two bits for the complement of the header code, and at least one synchronization bit.
 24. A method of sending data as defined in claim 14, wherein the local location at step 1 repetitively sequentially selects one of the Q addressable output data lines and wherein the local location at step 8 repetitively sequentially selects one of the P addressable input data lines.
 25. A method of sending data as defined in claim 14, wherein integer P equals integer Q.
 26. A method of sending data as defined in claim 13, wherein at step 10 the remote location error-checks the received second header and only allows the stored output data received in step 4 to be used by the remote external world if no error is detected in the second header.
 27. A method of sending data as defined in claim 26, wherein at step 10 the remote location generates a "data valid" signal when no error is detected in the second header so as to allow the stored output data received in step 4 to be used by the remote external world.
 28. A method of sending data as defined in claim 26, wherein at step 10 the remote location obtains data from the external remote world by setting a request new input data signal and wherein this signal is cleared at the remote location in step
 16. 29. A method of sending data as defined in claim 13, wherein the echoing of data from the remote location to the local location occurs while the remote location is receiving data from the local location.
 30. A method of sending output data from a local location to a remote location and sending input data from a remote location to a local location, for use of the output data by the external remote world and for use of the input data by the external local world, comprising the steps of:(1) the local location selecting and obtaining output data from the local external world; (2) the local location generating a first header (Hφ); (3) the local location sending the first header with the output data to the remote location; (4) the remote location receiving the first header and output data and storing at least a portion of the output data; (5) the remote location echoing the first header and the output data received in step 4 back to the local location; (6) the local location receiving the echoed first header and output data and error-checking this data respectively with the first header and output data sent in step 3; (7) if an error is detected in step 6 returning to step 3; (8) if no error is detected in step 6, the local location generating a second header (H1) including data representing the location of input data to be sent from the remote location to the local location; (9) the local location sending the second header to the remote location; (10) the remote location receiving the second header, allowing the stored output data received in step 4 to be used by the remote external world, and obtaining and storing from the remote external world input data represented by at least a portion of the second header; (11) the remote location echoing the received second header to the local location; (12) the local location receiving the second header and error-checking it with that sent in step 9; (13) if an error is detected in step 12 returning to step 9; (14) if no error is detected in step 12 assuming at the local location that a successful transfer of output data from the local location to the remote location has occurred and generating a third header (H2); (15) the local location sending the third header to the remote location; (16) the remote location receiving the third header and echoing back to the local location at least a portion of the received third header and sending the input data represented by at least a portion of the second header obtained fromthe remote external world in step 10 to the local location; (17) the local location receiving and storing the input data; (18) the local location generating a fourth header (H3); (19) the local location sending at least the fourth header to the remote location; (20) the remote location receiving the fourth header; (21) the remote location echoing back at least a portion of the fourth header to the local location along with input data represented by at least a portion of the second header; (22) the local location receiving and storing the input data sent in step 21; (23) the local location error-checking the input data received in step 22 with that received in step 17; (24) if an error is detected in step 23, the local location substituting the received input data in step 22 for that received in step 17 and returning to step 18; and (25) if no error is detected in step 23, the local location assuming a successful transfer has occurred of input data from the remote location to the local location and allowing the local external world to use the input data stored in step
 22. 31. A method of sending output data and input data defined in claim 30, wherein the output data and input data comprise addressable lines of data which are sequentially and repetitively transferred according to steps 1-25.
 32. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 31, wherein the lines of output data and input data comprise an invariant number of binary bits.
 33. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 32, wherein the generating of the first header (Hφ) includes the generation of "output new word" data representing the first transferral of output data from the local location to the remote location and wherein the remote location at step 17 in addition to echoing back at least a portion of the received third header and sending the desired input data obtained from the remote external world in step 10 further generates and sends "input new word" data representing the first sending of this particular input data to the local location and wherein the remote location allows the remote external world to sense the "output new word" data so as to inform the remote external world that the associated output data is new output data and wherein the local location allows the local external world to sense the "input new word" data so as to inform the local external world that the received input data is new.
 34. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 33, wherein the remote location allows the stored output data received in step 4 to be used by the remote external world in step 10 by generating a "data valid" signal at the remote location.
 35. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 30, wherein the first, second, third and fourth headers each comprise a fixed number of binary bits.
 36. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 35, wherein each header precedes any output data or input data associated therewith.
 37. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 36, wherein arbitrary data is generated by the local location along with the third header (H2) and fourth header (H3) and wherein said arbitrary data is sent to the remote location with the third header and fourth header respectively.
 38. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 37, wherein the output data and input data comprise an equal number of binary bits and wherein the arbitrary data generated with the second header (H1) and third header (H2) comprise binary bits equal in number to the output data and input data.
 39. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 38, wherein the echoing of data from the remote location to the local location occurs while the remote location is receiving data from the local location.
 40. A method of sending output data and input data as defined in claim 30, wherein the echoing of data from the remote location to the local location occurs while the remote location is receiving data from the local location.
 41. An input/output system for transferring information to and from a remote external device comprising:(A) an input/output memory for storage of input data received from the remote external device and output data for transferral to the remote external device; (B) at least one input/output channel interconnected with said input/output memory for receiving from the external device input data and for transferring to the external device output data, said input/output channel incorporating:(1) a local modem having,(a) header generating means for generating signals representing the current operating state of the input/output channel, (b) signal transferring means for receiving and transferring the output data to the remote external device and for receiving and transferring input data received from the remote external device to the iput/output memory, and (c) error-checking means for insuring the proper transferral and receipt of output data and input data to and from the remote external device; (2) data communications means interconnected with the local modem for transferring output data and for receipt of input data; and (3) a remote modem having,(a) means for receiving header signals and output data transferred by the local modem through the data communication means to the remote modem and for transferral of this output data to the remote external device when verification of error-free transferral of said output data is ascertained, (b) means for receiving input data from the remote external device, and (c) signal transferring means for transferring input data and echoing of received output data and header signals to the local modem,wherein the header generator means of the local modem generates a first header (Hφ), said header transferred with output data received from the input/output memory to the remote modem, said remote modem receiving and storing at least a portion of the transferred output data and echoing back at least a portion of the first header and transferred output data back to the local modem, the error-checking means of the local modem comparing the received header against that transferred and the received output data with that transferred by the local modem, and again transferring the first header with the same output data if any error is detected between the echoed first header or echoed output data with that transferred by the local modem to the remote modem, and if no error is detected, the header generator means generating a second header (H1) including data representing the location of the desired input data to be obtained by the remote modem from the remote device, the remote modem receiving the incoming second header with the data representing the address of desired input data, the signal transferring means allowing the received output data to be transferred to the remote external device upon receipt of the second header, and the signal transferring means echoing back the second header to the local modem, the error-checking means of the local modem comparing the received second header with the second header sent to the remote modem and if an error is detected causing the signal transferring means of the local modem to re-transfer the second header to the remote modem, and if no error is detected assuming that a successful transfer of output data has occurred, the local modem then entering a data input cycle by generating a third header (H2) with data representing the location of desired input data sent with the second header, the remote modem receiving the third header and echoing back to the local modem the third header along with the specified input data, the local modem receiving the third header and the input data and storing the input data, the local modem generating a fourth header (H3) with data requesting the same input data specified in the second header, the remote modem receiving the fourth header and echoing back at least a portion of the fourth header with the data located in the specified location, the local modem error-checking the fourth header and input data respectively with the fourth header transferred by the local modem to the remote modem and with the input data received immediately prior to the presently received input data and if any error is detected in either the fourth header or the input data respectively with the fourth header transferred to the remote modem or with the previously received input data, causing the most recently received input data to be stored by the local modem and again generating and sending the fourth header to the remote modem, and if no error is detected in either the fourth header or the received input data, assuming that a successful transferral of input data has occurred and allowing the input/output memory to obtain the latest received input data from the local modem.
 42. An input/output system as defined in claim 41, wherein the input data comprises P lines of data and the output data comprises Q lines of data, P and Q being positive integers and wherein the local modem sequentially transfers the Q output lines to the remote modem and wherein the local modem header generator means in at least the second header includes data representing the sequential locations of the P input lines and wherein the local modem sequentially and repetitively transfers the Q output lines to the remote modem and sequentially requests the receipt of the P input lines from the remote modem.
 43. An input/output system as defined in claim 42, wherein P and Q are the same integer.
 44. An input/output system as defined in claim 43, wherein the input data and output data both comprise an equal and invariant number of binary bits.
 45. An input/output system as defined in claim 44, further comprising:(C) means for generating a repetitive timing and control signal communicating with the input/output channel for causing data to be transferred to and from the input/output channel and the input/output memory for a short predetermined length of time after receipt of said timing and control signal other than when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel, wherein the input/output memory may be accessed by the local external world at all times other than such short predetermined length of time when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel.
 46. An input/output system as defined in claim 45, wherein the local modem header generator means further generates arbitrary data along with the third and fourth headers for transferral to the remote modem.
 47. An input/output system as defined in claim 46, wherein the arbitrary data generated by the local modem header generator means along with the third and fourth headers each comprise an invariant number of binary bits equal to the number of binary bits associated with the input data and output data.
 48. An input/output system as defined in claim 47, wherein the remote modem signal transferring means echoes the header and data to the local modem while the remote modem is in the process of receiving the header and data.
 49. An input/output system as defined in claim 41, wherein the remote modem signal transferring means echoes the header and data to the local modem while the remote modem is in the process of receiving the header and data.
 50. An input/output system comprising:(A) an input/output memory for the storage and receipt of input data and output data; and (B) at least one input/output channel interconnected with the input/output memory for transferring output data from the input/output memory and for receiving input data for storage by the input/output memory, the input/output channel incorporating:(1) a local modem having,(a) means for selecting and receiving output data from the input/output memory, (b) means for generating header signals indicating the state of data transferral to and from the local modem, (c) data transferring and receiving means for transferring the output data and header signals and for receiving the input data and header signals, and (d) error-checking means for insuring the proper transferral and receipt of output data and input data to and from the local modem; (2) data communication means interconnected with the local modem for transferring from the local modem header signals and output data and for receiving at the local modem header signals and input data; and (3) a remote modem having,(a) means for receiving output data and header signals from the local modem through the data communication means, and (b) data transferring means for echoing received output data and header signals and for transferring input data and header signals to the local modem through the data communication means;wherein, (1) the local modem sends selected output data to the remote modem; (2) the remote modem receives and echoes back to the local modem the output data; (3) the local modem receives and error-checks the echoed selected output data with that sent in step 1; (4) if an error is detected in step 3, the local modem returning to step 1; (5) if no error is detected in step 3, the local modem generating and sending to the remote modem a first header signal indicating desired selected input data; (6) the remote modem receiving and echoing the received first header signal to the local modem; (7) the remote modem obtaining the desired selected input data from the remote external world; (8) the local modem receiving the echoed first header signal and error-checking it with the first header signal sent in step 5; (9) if an error is detected in step 8, returning to step 5; (10) if no error is detected in step 8, assuming at the local modem that a successful transfer of output data from the local modem to the remote modem has occurred; (11) the local modem generating and sending a second header signal to the remote modem, the second header signal requesting transferral of the input data obtained in step 7; (12) the remote modem receiving the second header signal and sending to the local modem the desired selected input data obtained in step 7; (13) the local modem receiving and storing the requested input data; (14) the local modem generating and sending to the remote modem a third header signal requesting the transferral of the same input data requested in step 11; (15) the remote modem receiving the third header signal and echoing back the desired selected input data to the local modem; (16) the local modem receiving and storing the desired selected input sent in step 15 and error-checking this data with that received in step 13; (17) if an error is detected in step 16, the local modem substituting the data received in step 16 for that received in step 13 and returning to step 14; and (18) if no error is detected in step 16, the local modem assuming a successful transfer of input data has occurred from the remote modem to the local modem and returning to step
 1. 51. An input/output system as defined in claim 50, wherein the local modem header generating means further comprises means at step 1, for generating a "new output" signal indicating whether the output data there sent has been previously sent to the remote modem.
 52. An input/output system as defined in claim 51, wherein the remote modem further comprises a data buffer communicating with the data receiving means and data transfer means, and wherein the remote modem further comprises means for obtaining the desired selected input data from a remote external world by generating a data request signal informing the remote external world to load data into the data buffer.
 53. An input/output system as defined in claim 52, wherein the input/output memory communicates with a local external world and wherein the input/output memory obtains the selected output data from the local external world and transfers to the local external world received selected input data from the remote external world.
 54. An input/output system as defined in claim 53, further comprising first means for communicating the "new output" signal from the remote modem to the remote external world along with the output data received from the local modem so as to indicate to the remote external world the status of the output data and further comprising second means for communicating the "new input" signal from the input/output memory to the local external world to indicate the status of the input data received from the remote modem.
 55. An input/output system as defined in claim 54, further comprising:(A) means for generating a repetitive timing and control signal communicating with the input/output channel causing data to be transferred to and from the input/output channel and the input/output memory for a short predetermined length of time after receipt of the timing and control signal other than when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel, wherein the input/output memory may be accessed by the local external world at all times other than such short predetermined length of time when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel.
 56. An input/output system for transferring information to and from the remote external world and local external world comprising:(A) an input/output memory for the storage and receipt of input data as P input lines from the remote external world and output data as Q output lines from the local external world, P and Q being positive integers, the memory having means for generating "new output word" data indicating the newness status of an output data line, the "new output word" data having a first state when the output data line is first received by the memory and having a second state after the output data line is transferred from the memory; and (B) at least one input/output channel interconnected with said input/output memory for processing, isolating and receiving from the remote external world P lines of input data and transferring to the remote external world Q lines of output data, said input/output channel incorporating:(1) a local modem having,(a) means for sequentially receiving, processing and isolating the Q output data lines of the input/output memory, (b) header generator means for generating header data, including the "new output word" data, representing the current operating state of the input/output channel, (c) data transferring and receiving means for transferring the processed and isolated Q output data lines and the header data, and for receiving the P input data lines and header data, and (d) error-checking means for insuring the proper transferral and receipt of output data and input data to and from the remote external world; (2) data communications means interconnected with the local modem for transferring from the local modem and receiving at the local modem data including the transferral of header data, and Q output data lines and for receiving header data, and P input data lines; and (3) a remote modem having, (a) means for receiving, processing and isolating data transferred by the local modem through the data communications means to said remote modem and transferral of each of the Q output lines of isolated and processed data to the remote external world when verification of error-free transferral of each output data line is ascertained,(b) a header data storage, decoding, and error-checking means for storing the transferred header data and for error-checking the contents of the header data, (c) means for sequentially receiving, processing and isolating the P input data lines from the external remote world, (d) means for generating a "data valid" signal and for generating and inserting into a header data a "new input word" data indicating the newness status of an input data line, having a first state when an input data line is first received by the remote modem from the remote external world and having a second state after the input data line is transferred to the local modem; and (e) data transferring means for echoing the received Q output data lines and header data to the local modem and for transferring the P input data lines received from the external remote world and header data to the local modem after a "data valid" signal is generated;wherein the header generator means of the local modem initiates an output transferral state by generating a first header data (Hφ) including the "new output word" data from the input/output memory representing the newness status of the output data line, the header data transferred with the selected line of output data to the remote modem, the remote modem transferring means echoing the transferred line of output data back to the local modem along with the first header data, the error-checking means of the local modem comparing the received header data against that transferred and the received line of output data with that transferred, and if an error is detected causing the retransferral of the first header data and output data line to the remote modem, and if no error is detected the header generator means generating a second header data (H1) including an input line number associated with one of the P input data lines to be transferred by the remote modem to the local modem, the remote modem receiving and decoding the incoming second header data and if no error is detected in the second header generating a "data valid" signal allowing the transferral of the received output data to the remote external world, the remote modem data transferring means echoing back the second header data to the local modem, the error-checking means of the local modem comparing the received second header data with the second header data sent to the remote modem and if an error is detected causing the local modem to re-transfer the second header data to the remote modem, and if no error is detected assuming that a successful transferral of the selected Q output data line has occurred, the local modem header generator means then generating a third header data (H2) including the input data line number previously sent to the remote modem, the local modem transferring means transferring the third header data to the remote modem, the remote modem decoding this third header data and transferring the selected P input data line obtained from the remote external world to the local modem along with the third header data including the "new input word" data where it is stored by the local modem data transferring and receiving means, the local modem entering a data input verify state by the header generator means then generating a fourth header data (H3), the local modem transferring means transferring the fourth header data to the remote modem, the remote modem decoding the fourth header data and reloading the selected input data line from the remote external world and transferring it back to the local modem along with the fourth header data with the "new input word" data, the error-checking means of the local modem comparing the received selected P input data line with that previously received with the third header data and, if no error is detected, transferring the input data line from the local modem to the input/output memory and the local modem then incrementing to the next sequential output data line and returning to the output transferral state, and if an error is detected causing a re-transferral of the fourth header data to the remote modem and consequently causing the remote modem to re-transfer the selected input data line to the local modem until such time that the local modem error-checking means obtains an error-free transferral of the input data line; whereby the input/output channel continuously transfers Q output data lines from the local modem to the remote modem with error-checking thereof for transferral to the remote external world and transfers P input data lines from the remote modem to the local modem with error-checking thereof for transferral to the input/output memory and thus to the local external world.
 57. An input/output system as defined in claim 56, further comprising:(C) means for generating a repetitive timing and control signal communicating with the input/output channel for causing information to be transferred to and from an input/output channel and the input/output memory for a short predetermined length of time after receipt of the timing and control signal other than when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel, whereby said input/output memory may be accessed at all times by the local external world other than said short predetermined length of time when the input/output memory is communicating with the input/output channel.
 58. An input/output system as defined in claim 57, wherein the data communications means comprises a coaxial cable.
 59. An input/output system as defined in claim 58, wherein the "data valid" signal is cleared by the remote modem after receipt of the first header data. 